I have a Fuji Kl 20H guide and guide foot is bent. The bottom of the guide foot is not flat and bends out, so it can rock on the blank.

Is this intentional or an error? I received this part from a reputable supplier in this condition, and I do not have any other KL 20H guide to compare to for reference. I figured to ask around before doing anything to it.

It happens, fix it, something we all have done. While you are at it check for any metal burrs on the bottom of the foot, they can damage the blank.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2024 12:08AM by Spencer Phipps.

So I suppose the bottom of the foot is supposed to be flat. How easy it is to bend it to its proper form? Is the metal brittle? Because if the frame is made from brittle material, I would be concerned about it breaking and not bending.

It is not brittle, the guide has to be able to be knocked about, untangled from other rods from time to time, loaded by fish and other things. It has to be able to allow a ceramic ring to be installed or a metal ring to be swagged in., I'm sure you can think of other things if you try. any imperfections when you are done at least for me, can be leveled out with some minor file work to the bottom of the foot before you wrap it.

Not sure I'm understanding what you mean by the bottom of the guide foot is not flat? If you mean that it's not straight in what would be the horizontal plane when looking at it from the side? Then it's supposed to be straight, and I would simply bend it so that it was straight. Like Spencer said, the metal is not brittle. I'd just make sure you're not using the legs of the guide frame as a holding point when trying to straighten it.

If you mean the bottom of the foot is not flat across its' width? It's not supposed to be. The bottom of the foot is slightly concave. This is so it conforms to roundness of the blank. If it's flat across the surface, it would cause it to do what you're describing, and rock on the blank. If the bottom of the guide foot is convex, you aren't going to be able to fix it. At least not with hand tools.

You don't need another KL 20H guide to compare it to. You can compare the guide in question to any of the other KL -H guides you have, as well as any KB or KT guide you have on hand. The bottoms of their guide feet are all concave. As they should be.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2024 04:49PM by David Baylor.

Bending and shaping guide feet is part of the custom rod building process.

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It was bent when looking from the side. So when taped on, it would rock forward and back. I have already done what Spencer said and bent it so it would sit flat on the blank. I simply used two needle nose pliers and something to protect the metal from scratches or marring from the pliers. Don't worry, I did not use the legs of the guide frame to help bend the guide foot.