What do you do when the guide foot has a larger diameter than the rod blank. I'm finishing up a 7'6" casting rod using standard ( I don't remember the model)fugi two feet guides. I looked to see if they could be filed down but I don't think they would hold up. Should I be using a different type guide or is this nomal. I've got them on the rod now and they don't look bad. I just think it could look better. Thanks for any suggestions..

steve thats normal when you build a rod with very small tip sizes
ill bet you used a 4-4.5 tip right.. you can reduce the foot of your guide a little with out a major worrie just go slow and shave a little off of each side if you are useing double foot there is even less too worrie about remember you will b epoxying there will be a little build up from that so dont be shocked buy the finish after it has set. and i looks larger than normal .... hope this helps........John T Burford aka Tightline Rod's

You can file or grind to reduce width a bit. Or you can use them as is, although I think you will find that if the guide foot is wider than the blank width that the guides will not be quite as stable over the long haul and may be prone to some movement or twisting under the wraps. Luckily, the forces placed on the tip section of a blank are minimal.

Another thing you can do would be to file the foot underside with a chain saw file (these are non-tapered) which is about the same diameter as the blank where the particular guide will reside. Making the foot underside conform to the blank gives you a better and more stable seating of the guide onto the blank over the long haul.

If you try this, lock the handle end of the file in a vise. Then sit the guide on top of the file's cutting teeth and push in the direction of cut. Make a long pass and then remove the guide, return to the end of the file and repeat. 3 or 4 passes usually is enough. Polish the underfoot and wrap away.

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