Topic One: Sweeping Guide Feet.
* When do you do it, if at all?
* What is your technique?

Topic Two: Rod Builders Hand Care.
* How do you take care of your hands?
* Any specific products or procedures you use?

Never heard the term "Sweeping Guide Feet"?????
Herb

Herb - Sweeping the guide foot is about removing/reducing that little ball of epoxy between the tip-facing foot of the guide and the rod blank when thread epoxy is applied. In my observation, it happens because the thread epoxy climbs the guide post right in front of the "tunnel" of the guide foot wraps. This is partially a result of the Forhan Locking Wraps I add when I attach single foot guides. I end up with six turns of thread on the tip-side of the guide foot. When I put epoxy in this area, it climbs the guide post a little bit, forming a small 'triangle' of epoxy between the guide post and the blank.

Perhaps it is a cosmetic issue only.

Herb - also Hand Care...Do you do anything in particular to take care of your hands? Personally, I don't do a whole lot, but I notice after a building session of using lots of alcohol wipes, my finger tips get super dry - and that leads to 'skin burrs' that snag my thread. So annoying! But I don't want to use any products that may contain 'fish-eye' producing chemicals to soften my finger tips. Any thoughts?

Curious about what others think about the necessity of sweeping the guide foot (necessary or not) and what you gurus have to say about keeping your tools (in this case, your hands) in the best working order.

Hello Herb.

Leslie- I wear nitrile gloves when I work on rods.

Re-Write: I leave it there unless it's excessive.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2022 12:01PM by Robert A. Guist.

Leslie
Yes - I sweep epoxy from my guide feet.
Very important.
These deposits cause cracking and may allow water to enter tunnel if not sealed well.
I use either non-waxed dental floss or strips of paper.
I use dental floss threader with double foot guides.

Re hands, - if finger burrs an issue - I have used finger coats from the drug store.
Herb

For wicking the extra epoxy from guide feet, I use a toothpick or tiny piece of lint-free paper towel folded in half (so the fuzzy torn edge doesn't contact the epoxy.)

I agree with Robert for using nitrile gloves while building rods.

Many plusses to wearing gloves:

Keeps skin oil off the blank/thread

If using a hand wrapper, MUCH better grip on the blank so better control and less stress on hands

And the obvious reduction in exposure to solvents and epoxy. I'm not sensitive to epoxy, but people can develop issues with it which is a major problem for rod building. Therefore, to me it makes sense to prevent avoidable contact with epoxy.

As far as sweeping guide feet goes, I use the folded edge of a folded over paper towel, that is wet with isopropyl alcohol.

As far as hand care goes. I wash my hands with Dawn dish washing soap prior to starting to wrap. At work I work with silicone caulk quite a bit, so if I know I'll be wrapping guides in the next few days, I'll wear nitrile gloves while at work, just to take away the chance of transferring any residual silicone that may be in or on my skin, to the wrapping thread.

I just use doubled up wrapping thread. Usually sweep twice in the first hour.

I do as Mark does.

Removing excess epoxy is done with a dry epoxy brush by going around and between the feet pulling away as much as you care to, then using a clean sheet of paper,magazine pages, or any lint free dry substance, wipe the brush out and go on to the next guide if you have to.
Don't glob on the epoxy and you won't have to do this.
I can't help you with hand care because I don't practice it.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

With respect to hand care:

[okeeffescompany.com]

Apply the hand care every night just before going to bed. That way it will do its work and you will not have any worries the next day with respect to contamination.

Of course, standard procedure is to ALWAYS wash your hands with soap before beginning to work on a rod, and to wash them again, after any extended work session.

No different than a surgeon before the surgeon goes into the operating room. A good scrub with soap and water to prevent patient contamination. Your rod being built is your patient for the day. Treat it accordingly.

Best wishes

So Roger, this is brain surgery..lol.

Any reason to think that it isn't?

Certainly the time that some folks put into a rod is much much longer than the typical brain surgery isn't it?

Do commercial rod makers sweep guide feet, and if so, how do they do it? Might as well ask a professional.