Is it better to have a perfectly snug fit or a small gap for winding checks?

Hello Michael.

I prefer a gap about the size of "A-D" thread unless the rod bends way down, just remember that if a fish bends hard where the check is your rod could possibly break at the check.

You have to exorcise a little common sense (know wat you will be using the rod for and what the fish your fishing for and what those fish can do to you rod).


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

I prefer to get the measurement and go one size up. I then wrap the rod first and slide the winding check over the wrap. It gives just cleaner aesthetics in my opinion.

Do not just drop the metal check down the blank, some have sharp edges that will grab to blank when they fall and will be a real bear to remove and leave a nick in your finish or blank afterward. Slide them down, I use a two fingered fork underneath to ease them down.

You want the winding check to slide down 100 percent on its own to the grip, so a tiny bit of wiggle room is needed. Buy some cheap digital calipers at Harbor Freight, measure the location on the rod of the winding check, and order accordingly. While one must be very careful, you can enlargen the inner ring of a winding check with a fine rat tail file and/or some fine grit sandpaper.

I like the look of winding checks, but yeah.. all that was said above

I put a skinny bit of tape on the blank where the winding check end will go, acts as a shim too, if it overlaps a bit it can be trimmed, then epoxy it inplace.


Can be expensive these things, and i've made them out of anything laying around, bike parts.

The winding check should slide down the blank easily without any applied force. Make sure the check is de-burred each time the check is test fitted.

Have fun

Thank you guys