Hi all -

I have tried searching the forums without sucess- Is there a rule of thumb or some guidance on how long to make the guide wrap length? I am looking for the aesthetic proportion of how long to make my wraps past the guide foot.

I realize this is a bit subjective and depandant on guide type and style, but I just dont feel like I am getting it right.

I am rebuilding some old boat rods, so they are nothing special but I still want them to look good.

Any tips or pointers?

Thanks

Dennis

Hello Dennis.

There was an article on it in RodMaker Magazine:

Volume/Issue.....Article .................Page.
7/6 Guide Foot Wrapping Length. 28



Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

On fly rods - I start my wraps right at the end of the guide foot.
My stripper and other ceramics I start about 1/4" past foot.
The difference in foot length of the ceramics takes care of the wrap lengths.
I think less is more.
Others who do "art" like longer wraps.
Depends if you wrap for art or function.
Herb
CTS

I start about three thread wraps off the end of the foot, no matter the guide size or type. On dbl foot guides sometimes the feet are not the same length from one end to the other but I no longer worry about that. I want the wraps as short as possible and anything beyond the guide foot is really just for looks anyway. It does not do anything in terms of holding the guide to the blank.

Dennis.

Rule of thumb is whatever you want it to be. I started building rods in the 1970's. Back then I wanted longer wraps to "decorate" them. Remember, the longer the wraps = more thread, CP and epoxy, = more weight you are adding to the rod. Over the years since I have gone to shorter wraps (personal preference). You can still add decorative details with thread on those as well. As Herb said, art v function.

When I have refinished older rods, or replaced guides, I usually start the wraps where the older ones started. There's generally a multitude of mistakes, if you know what I mean, that needs to be covered with the new thread.

Above all, have fun. I've enjoyed this hobby for years. It's my way of escaping "reality"...

tmbain@sbcglobal.net
Benton, Ar
"NEVER GIVE UP"

Mike-

The different length feet on double foot guides is exactly what I am wrestling with.

Using 3-5 wraps before th foot of each guide consistently, they proportions still look 'off' to me.

At this point, I am not going to worry about it- time fussing is less time fishing.

Dennis

What looks "off" now will become what looks normal over time.

some guides are asymmetric, and the wrap looks odd when compared to the guide foot.

For example Alps XN guide and Fuji GMMNSG. The foot towards the tip is shorter so the wrap looks longer.

I have done rods both ways "X" amount from the foot which makes the wrap asymmetric. OR made the wrap symmetric which makes it look long.

i am leaning towards asymmetric even though the eye gravitates to it.