Get on the websites of some of the guide companies, they usually have a good breakdown of which style of their guides is matched for a type of fishing. Saltwater vs freshwater, inshore vs offshore, shore vs boat. etc.
Forum: rodboard

Now I have heard that cutting a blank to shorten it is not a problem, to a point, as long as from the butt. I also made golf clubs and had to shorten many graphite rods with no problem. I would ido cut before you set guides cause relationship if bend to length will change.
Forum: rodboard

Gotcha. The static guide placement article you did is excellent, and it pretty much is what I do. I do not do it in 3 steps, slight bend then more then max bend. I have noticed how bend point moves, can be pretty big, on different length and power of rods, so yea a lighter rod with bend point higher on rod I use less weight to keep bend up were it naturally wants to bend. I have found out you c
Forum: rodboard

Tom Thanks. Yea i will check them out. So then for opinion is guide spacing more critical for casting distance or even load distribution through rod, or both.
Forum: rodboard

When I set my guide spacing I use a static setup for placing. Put rod at 45 degree angle , bend rod to a 90 degree angle , run line from reel through guides and start placing to have line mimic arc of rod. I use either CRB or St Croix spacing guide chart as a start then adjust as needed to make sure line runs smoothly and follows bend of rod. If I notice an angle in line I move guides till the li
Forum: rodboard