and, i emphasize the word, novice.

this probably should be in the form of a pm to one of you guys, but, i thought it might be questions other beginners may like to have answered as well..   soooo -

1) do any of you guys use jigs, or something like them, to align the guides on the rod?   do you "eyeball" them?    ..mark w/pencil?  ..iow,, how do you align your guides?

2) same song, different verse, ...on a spiral wrap, do you align the first guide in top center of rod, or, do you "nudge" it to bumper side?

3) on last two or three guides before tip, do you glue guides down, or, do anything different?  ...i tore a factory made rod down & there was NO thread at all on top three guides, just epoxy.   ...is this common?

4) most of the rods i "re-modded" had hook keepers above the fore grip.  after i removed fg, it left 3 or 4 inch space above reel seat blank.  i just built a ramp over seat & painted blank area.  ...do you think it would have looked better to have removed hook keeper & put it nearer reel seat?  (actually, the hook keeper was on the same area as name tag, etc., & it would have been Very difficult to have removed it & make the area look Professional.)

5) is there something you can put on casting reel seats on older rods to restore their "new" look?

6) do most of you use masking tape to hold guides in place before wrapping?  if not, what do you use? (i read on rodbuilding.org about rubber bands, etc., but, i guess it's a trial & error thing - just want to hear different options)

7)   ....i guess the most importan question - "is there anything you can do for these old arthritic hands to make them function like they did 20 years ago??  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

THANK YOU -  in advance for any help.

ronnie

1.  I eyeball the guides, I tried marking the blank but it only caused me more trouble.  With the tip and reel seat to eyeball from, it is not a problem.  If you have bad vision or something like that, a center line or mark may be the way to go.

2.  I go top dead center with my butt guide on a simple spiral.  Some actually offset opposite the bumper to compensate for the guide's diameter and keep from a reel sideloading the line.  I've not seen that problem yet.  I like to use a smaller butt guide, rather than stagger it.  I normally use a 10mm butt guide unless building a really heavy rod.

3.  All guides should be wrapped.... what you saw was someone's attempt to shortcut time or money, IMO.  But, I don't put a decorative thread wrap at the base of the tip top.

4.  I think it's personal preference...  I don't use hook keepers on my rods... even factory rods with them I hook on the reel so the point is not exposed.

5.  I haven't done any restoration work yet, but something like an armor all may help...  ReelMech might have a trick or two for that.  

6.  I use 1/8" or 1/4" masking tape.  It's quick and easy.  The rubberbands and tubing seemed like more work to me...  and the problem of how to get it off when done.  Either cut it off and risk a nick in the blank or take the guides off again and slide it off... which chances a moved guide, after static testing.  Neither of those options are in my comfort zone.

7.  I wish I had a good answer for this one... I have 2 rods waiting to be wrapped.  I got up this morning to begin and had one of those mornings where the fingers were stiff, weak and without dexterity.  So, maybe tonight they will feel better and I'll get some wrapping done.

Hope that helps,

Keith

1) do any of you guys use jigs, or something like them, to align the guides on the rod?   do you "eyeball" them?    ..mark w/pencil?  ..iow,, how do you align your guides?

I don't, I have been eye balling my guides since I started, now that I wear glasses I will get my wife to second any of my alignments. I have read on the .org board that some of the guy's there use laser's to align guides with, and some use a piece of white D size thread tied to the stripper and tip top guides.

2) same song, different verse, ...on a spiral wrap, do you align the first guide in top center of rod, or, do you "nudge" it to bumper side?

On all of my spiral setups I set the stripper guide at 0°, I have found that the majority of the low profile and round reels that I build for have about the same body with and most have the same level-wind width, and have found none of the stacking problems that some building for wider spool widths have found. I also use the smallest stripper guide I can, mostly a 10mm double foot.

3) on last two or three guides before tip, do you glue guides down, or, do anything different?  ...i tore a factory made rod down & there was NO thread at all on top three guides, just epoxy.   ...is this common?

I have seen that on a lot of rack rods over the years, don't know if it the manufacturers trying to save a few bucks or a lousy wrapping employee not being able to do all of the wraps in the time allotted his station on the assembly line. I wrap every guide and the tip top section.

4) most of the rods i "re-modded" had hook keepers above the fore grip.  after i removed fg, it left 3 or 4 inch space above reel seat blank.  i just built a ramp over seat & painted blank area.  ...do you think it would have looked better to have removed hook keeper & put it nearer reel seat?  (actually, the hook keeper was on the same area as name tag, etc., & it would have been Very difficult to have removed it & make the area look Professional.)

Personal preferences! If I had been doing the re-modeling of the rod and the rod blank was a matte finish blank, I would have removed the hook keeper and the manufacturers decal. If the blank was glossy then I would have removed the foregrip, and left it just as you did.

5) is there something you can put on casting reel seats on older rods to restore their "new" look?

The only thing I use on my rods after the build is my old Birchwood Casey gun cloth. It keep the graphite seats, wraps, guides, looking good and helps repel water.

6) do most of you use masking tape to hold guides in place before wrapping?  if not, what do you use? (i read on rodbuilding.org about rubber bands, etc., but, i guess it's a trial & error thing - just want to hear different options)

When I layout the guides (static flex test) I use cut rubber tubing rings. I roll them onto the blank and then insert my guides into them. Once I get my spacing and have it logged, I will cut the rings and then I use Fuji guide foot glue to tack the guides into place. I have been using this technique for 15 years and it has a duel purpose. 1 it keep the guides in place while I wrap. 2 it also cushions the guide foot on the blank, this helps keep the guide foot from trying to cut the blank if you don't get a good smooth foot edge when you prep the guide foot.

7)   ....i guess the most importan question - "is there anything you can do for these old arthritic hands to make them function like they did 20 years ago??

I don't have any answers for this one, my hands cramp all the time working on rods or reels.

Tight Wraps!  

Thanks guys - VERY MUCH!   ...i really wish there was something i could do for you guys,  i know you hear it often, but this means a LOT to me.  .....maybe one day.....

Oh but there IS something you can do for us...

Build a new custom rod for yourself and then post a picture of a nice fish you caught on it!!