Do any of you coat them with anything after you have filled them down to prevent rust mainly in a saltwater environment? I have one rod I built that the guide feet rusted on.

I think if the guide feet are rusting it is an indication that water is getting into the wrap. Often when this is happening the epoxy will look cloudy, then clear as the water evaporates. If you see cloudy epoxy, give it another coat. If the feet are rusting it's probably a poor job of applying wrap epoxy, or the epoxy has broken down.

I don't grind guide feet, just a light brush with 150 sandpaper to provide a little better climbing of the thread. You can also skip up the foot with 5 or 6 wraps, then slide them back down the foot thus filling the gap left by the skip.

I guess that does make since that it will only rust if water i getting in mixing with air. I think the best thing to do is just cut them off and rewrap.

Hello All.

Michael D. has it right, but for me sometimes with heavy salt gear I will sometimes use a guide that is a little thicker than I want so I have to grind the feet down some and the metal shows nice & shinny on a black rod, so I will spray primer the same color as the guide over the feet of the guide, or whatever color you want (match the blank or the wrap).

Hope that helps.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

I use heavy saltwater guides like Robert....I have to grind them. My overwraps are usually black so I just take a black sharpie and color them that way. Saves me heartache later...I have had the silver show through once or twice on a finished rod

Titanium frames will not corrode in saltwater environments. It is also a good idea to make sure the part of the foot that bends up to the neck is covered with epoxy. Don't leave anyplace where water can be captured against the blank and the guide frame, especially with Stainless Steel frames..

I also use a black sharpie for black guides if I have shine showing through.

I also use a black sharpie for black guides if I have shine showing through.

Take a little time and look at some welder forums.

It is well known that using a sanding/grinding/cutting wheel on one metal and then another will "contaminate" one and can lead to corrosion. Always use a "virgin" device. Ditto on anything that contains chlorides like many marker/paint pens. In general you want:

Less than 200ppm of Chlorides and total Halogens

Less than 250ppm of each low melting point metals (includes: Antimony, Bismuth, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Phosphorus, Tin, Zinc, Copper, Silver)

Less than 250ppm of sulfur

So it could be that you didn't encapsulate with epoxy, or it could be that you did contaminate with your prep work. Did you grind/sand the guide feet? What others get away with in their waters matters little to you in your waters.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Very informative.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2021 06:23PM by John DeMartini.

If using a Sharpie, it should one approved for marking metal.