Michael,
A couple examples of units that I have made over the years:
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www.rodbuilding.org]
These units use a base made from plastic cutting board which needs no finish and is easy to machine. The aluminum is simple bar and flat stock - drilled and tapped as needed. The rollers are nylon rollers that come with their own bearings and plumbing O rings have been placed in the grooved rollers that normally roll in the rails on a bath tub.
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[
www.rodbuilding.org]
This unit is a more robust version of the unit shown above and what I have used for many years for building rods. Again, a plastic cutting board base, vertical and horizontal supports made of aluminum that have been drilled and tapped. The current rollers that are not shown in this photo are Patio Door rollers bearings with the addition of a larger O ring in the roller groove to provide a cushion.
I prefer the cantilever design of these rod supports, because it allows my hand to be right beside and even under the rod support if the support happens to be close to a guide. In particular, when wrapping a fine tipped flexible tipped rod, it is very helpful to have the rod support very close to the tip of the rod when you are wrapping the tip.
