Found a neat little tool to find the center of rod blanks. The pro's on this site probably already know about it or have a different method but I thought it was worth mentioning. I found it at [www.rockler.com] and drilled out the center hole to about 3/16" to accommodate the china marker lead. Just slide it up the blank to make a mark where your guides are laid out.

Bill

I use my eyeballs, being off a fraction of a MM off, if at all, makes no difference in the performance of the rod.

I am A DO DO ? but where would a small time rod builder use it ? after saying that it looks great an a wood worker could use it, but I don't see it for the average rod builder if I am wrong do fill me in thanks, this is just a question not to trash the the unit because it is a neat unit , just not for the average rod builder

William Sidney
AK

It is a neat tool but there's a problem using one to center mark a round object. There is no way to easily keep the tool itself centered on the circumference.

Lynn Williams was working on a tool that would do that, and accommodate the taper of the rod blank as well, but the intricacy and cost involved precluded him from bringing it to market.

The great use such a tool would have, of course, lies in things like perfect guide alignment.

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I love how builders like to complicate things
Put the guides on as per spacing chart Or every 5" apart Static test done ! Test cast adjust

Bill - willierods.com

The tool centers itself, as long as the two posts on the bottom stay in contact with the rod blank. Just lock the blank in your wrapper and slide the tool down the blank it will stay centered. No need to run a line down the whole blank just where the guides are to be attached. I have seen CBR make a laser to sight down the blank but this seems to be easier and less costly.

Bill

But you have to hold it on the circumference center - it won't do that for you as it's made for use on square objects. You could easily draw a spiraled line around the rod blank. It might be down the center of the blank, but not necessarily on the same axis.

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I have found that if you hold the marker vertically, the mark will be in a straight line down the center of the blank.
[s37.photobucket.com]

Hello William.

I agree with Tom on this one, I home made a jig like that one without the fancy stuff, just a 3" piece of wood with 3 holes drilled down the center line, then put 2 dowels, one at each end and a grease pencil hole in the center and it is hard to keep a real straight line using it.

I bought one of the lasers from MudHole, and it works fine.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

I agree with Bill. I was one of those builders that made guide placement complicated with lasers, tools, etc. I find having my shop lights centered on my rod lathe makes it very easy. I mark my guides then by standing over the blank looking down I can see a bright line down the blank created by the light reflecting off the blank. My guides are always very close to perfect. After wrapping I make a couple minor adjustments and they're ready. Give it a try. Good luck, MH

I never had a problems with using Eye Sight to locate guides after a static test
After the tip top is glued on and aliened to the reel

Just another tool that will be used ONCE and then put in a box and never used again

Bill - willierods.com

I align the guides by eye, however I take the rod outside in the sun light and I sight down the rod at different targets or backgrounds such as, cars, trees, walls sky anything that is around. After some trial and error I find a background which illuminates the rod and presents a spectacular sight picture and from there I make my final adjustments.

Also it gets me out of the house.

It is obvious from all the posts that each of us are happy to share our pet process and hope to be of some help.

Good fishing

john

Using a "V" block, set a "T" square from the outside edge of the block to the center of the "V". Now put the blank in the "V" block and locate the axis you want the guides on so it aligns with the end of the square.. Secure the blank so it will not move. Now using the "T" square and "V" block you can mark the chosen axis anywhere along the blank you want by sliding the "V" block up or down the blank.

This tool probably would not be something an experienced builder would use. But, being a beginner, I found that it would draw a centered line down a blank no matter the diameter or tapper of the blank. There is no need to draw a line down the entire blank, only the locations where the guides will be placed. The price was right and even though it was made for wood working I think there is some crossover uses. Just keeping an open mind for any tools that help me gain some experience in the craft.

Bill

25 years ago I was building a rod for a machineist friend of mine who saw me struggling to find the center line. He took the old frame base from a penn reel and put a small 1" screw in the center and it works like a charm, don't know what I'd do without it. Yankee ingenuity.

I made one quite a few years ago using 1/4" perspex sheet about 3"long & 1" wide with 3 1/4" holes drilled 1 I the centre & the other 2 1" from the centre .It worked for me for a number of years until I made a different style of layout system .I found as long I kept the marking pencil vertical & the dowels firm against the side it worked perfectly

Regards Baz

Bundeena
NSW Australia

Sheridan,

I think I understand what you are describing, but can you post a picture? I'm not sure it is much different than the tool discussed in the original post.

Steve Hartzell
Lake Conroe - Willis, Texas

I take it you use this to mark the blank where the guides will go ????
I put the handle and seat on finding the straightest axis Mark the top or O of the rod Then glue the top on to the seat Cast - Spin _ or spiral wrap Then put the guides on 1 per foot ( to start ) Static test Which will tell me where the guides go and if I need another or less guides
test cast Simple and easy

Bill - willierods.com