Hello everyone,
I posted here a while ago about guides for my first build, an Epic 370 FastGlass. I decided to go with REC Recoil Single Foot Guides and I'm using a Fuji Torzite Single Foot 10 as the stripper. My friend who's helping me recommends using underwraps, but so far, just about everything I've read, has said not to. What do you guys think? He said he has a spool of black 0 gauge thread I could use, which would help reduce the weight. Apparently that size isn't available anymore; he's been doing this since he was a kid and he's in his 60's now, so he has tons of old school stuff and experience. I'm leaning more towards not using them, as I'll be wrapping the ferrules and would like to keep the weight down as much as possible. Right now, I'm at the point where I'm trying to find the best placement for the guides, so if anyone has any good tips on the best way to determine that, I'd appreciate it. The guides are all on the rod with rubber tubing now, and I'd like to read up as much as I can before I tape them down and try casting and stuff. He placed them for me and measured with a ruler, I basically went with the guide sizes recommended by Swift, 10,3,2,1,1,1,1,1,4.5 tip top, instead of 1/0's I stayed with 1's, since single foots only go that low. So far everything looks great, and I'm super anxious to get it done so I can try it, but I definitely don't want to rush things and end up regretting something in the long run.

Thank You,
Ian O

Ian

I see no advantage for under wrap for light weight rods unless you want to add a decorative touch to the finished product.

Have fun

John

No. Not needed for any practical purpose. Particularly unwise on such a light powered rod.

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No, you never need to underwrap a rod like yours, and about 99% of any other builds you'll do.

Read the article in the library about static guide placement. I also believe under wraps on your rod is needless.

Ian,
No to your particular underwrap question. Guide placement = static loading the blank.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Ian,
Like the others have stated, underwraps are not needed, Epic blanks are made with "reinforcement" material at the ferrule stations, as are many other modern manufactured fly rod blanks. All you will do is add unnecessary weight to the blank.

As for guide placement, Epic should have provided a guide placement chart with the blank, I usually use this as a start point, then tweek the positions with the Static placement method if needed. If Epic did not provide the placement chart, just email them, they are usually very helpful with questions.

+ 1 on what Bill Hickey said above regarding ferrule wraps and guide placement . I used to wrap ferrules but not anymore , many manufacturers say there is zero need for it these days and all it does is add unnecessary weight . Many still insist on doing it but after i was told that their ferrules would be replaced under warranty is they ever cracked by CTS and St. Croix i have avoided wrapping them and to this day no issues whatsoever .

Regarding guide placement , static guide placement is mostly used for tweaking the running guides as it allows you to see where the guides should go for the best upper rod stress distribution , the library has info on using the "Two line" method for this . I only use the static guide placement for the upper half of the rod after i have the best stripper location and transition train down & thats determined on the reel you choose to use especially with spinners.

Regarding underwraps - never , not unwise on offshore ocean rods that take a beating but everything else , nope .

If this blank truly is "fast" glass then under wraps could be used to slow it down to fit the owner's taste.

After reading the OP's first post slowing down the blank isn't what he wants , he wants to avoid all unnecessary weight and wants ideas on best guide placement . He needs to figure out what reel , what line and the reels ideal location based on his personal preferences and comfort level . I don't know how other people do it but i like to finish the bottom part of the rod first meaning reel seat positioning and attachment and finishing the rear and foregrip, only after that is decided on will guide layout take place but again thats just me everyone's different.

No structural need for under wraps. Under wrap for stripping guide only is a neat aesthetic.

For a 3 weight I'd use a 10 mm or 8 mm stripper, a single size 2 or size 1 snake, followed by size 1/0 snakes to the tip top. No idea how best to convert those snake sizes to single foot guides.

Epic guide placement is always close but do always ideal, especially for the upper 1/3 of the guides.

Ferrule reinforcing wraps are dirt cheap insurance and if you read the Epic instructions the wraps are suggested though if memory is correct not mandatory.

You cannot change the action of a blank by the addition of under wraps, nor anything else. You can, however, slow down the speed of the blank, by adding anything that increases the amount of weight it has to carry.

A "fast action" blank will remain a fast action blank, no matter what you do short of cutting it from one end or the other. "Action" is where the rod initially flexes. "Speed" is how fast it reacts and recovers.



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