Just completed the 1st of 6 Stand-up rods. Each giuide was under wrapped and 2 over wraps. In other words, triple wrapped. Used Treadmaster epoxy on the underwrap and both overwraps. Let the epoxy cure and after 4 days decided to flex the rod. Hearing what appears to be a crackling noise and noticed using my head magnifier hairline fractures at the tip of the guide feet. Have built my share of Stand-up Rods and didn’t recall hearing this noise. Looking for thoughts on this subject or ideas.
Ken

it sounds like your layers are not bonded to gather an move under load, [ not good I think ]

William Sidney
AK

Ken,
If I were you, I would to 10 maximum flex tests on each rod. Then examine every section of every rod for any signs of finish cracking.
If you find an area with a crack, apply an additional coat to that particular spot or guide on the rod. After that, I am guessing that all would be well.

Best wishes

Just had same happen on standup 37kg just built. Underwrap in A and double overwrap in D thread. Faint hairline crack at end of the feet. But I didn't hear any cracking sounds. Next build think I am going to try lite build epoxy and only single overwrap in C or D.
I feel your pain. Scott

If you earch here, there's a post from 2007 or 08 which deals with this that I made. Spray the least amount of WD40 where the guides touch the epoxy and wipe teh excess off. IT'll stop

Hi Billy,
What was the topic on this called? Would like to read about.it.
Thanks
Ken

Topic title is Squeaking guides

Thank You!

Once the epoxy has fully cured the noise will cease.

..............

Thank you, Ken, for the post, and Bill, Roger, Scott, Billy and Tom for your veteran, insightful replies.
I just finished my first stand-up rod; a 30-80lb FG Calstar with spiral-wrapped rollers, size A under-wrap with a single D overwrap. After reading Ken’s post, I decided to flex this build and to my surprise, am experiencing the same creeking / cracking noise and it is rather pronounced. This is the only under-wrapped rod of the six or so I have built which has exhibited the noise, at least that me or customers have noticed.
The first two builds were under-wrapped with a length of CF/Kevlar woven sleeving with a single D over-wrap, all epoxied at the same time. All the others have been under-wrapped with size A, coated with thread epoxy, then a single over-wrap of D. Since two different methods of under-wrap/over-wrap/epoxy were used with no creeking noise yet this last one is noisy, I am a bit baffled.
I suspect Billy V’s. synopsis may be correct concerning the guide feet. The spiral-wrap rollers I had to use do not offer the hinge-effect frame as most rollers afford. Therefore, the pronounced creeking I am experiencing may be from these guide feet not flexing as much with the blank. As a note, due to these rollers being spiral-wrapped and therefore on the bottom of the rod, the guides are on the compression side of the blank rather than the tension side which may be why I do not notice any cracks in the epoxy at the tips of the feet. I do not like Bill S.’s reply because I would hate to think I built a rod that was “not good” lol. I would like to believe Tom, but the epoxy has had 2-5 days, from under-wrap to last coat of finish, to cure even though it will take a few more days to fully cure.
I would hate to have to smear WD40 on the rod!

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

Started my 2nd build, will see what if it happens again, My stand-up rod is a Batson Rainshadow RX6 & Eglass blank RCTB56H X-Fast 40-80lb.
Trimmed at the tip -1” and at the butt -16 1/4”, using an American Tackle short straight butt. Total length is 5’6”. The roller guides are Aftco HD Chrome. I know this is irrelevant to noise problem, just sharing this information just to compare notes. Thus far from reading this thread and Billy’s topic Squeaking guides, the one thing in common is this seems to happen only on stand-up or big game rods. I will be leaving for Aruba in another week so I don't know how far I will get with this 2nd build.
Ken

Ken,
The Aftco HD Chrome guides are not irreverent. We are all here to learn. The broader the base = broader knowledge!

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

So I have returned from Aruba, was hoping the cracking noise was related to the epoxy not being fully cured. However I still have the noise every time the rod is flexed. Finishing up on the second build and we’ll see if it happens again. In the meantime still very much open to suggestions!
Thanks all