while working on my rod the biggest problem i ran into was getting my guides in a perfectly staraight line. the rod i just finished they arent in a straight line they graully go to the left. i dont think if somebody picked it up they would notice but i do.

also the first guide i did came out and didnt perfectly line up i was just wondering how you guys keep it straight.

and finally when doing this i used masking tape and it didnt seem to do a very good job. i couldnt seem to put it on tight without moving the good and haveing to completely restart. and if i bumped it will wrapping it was a pain to put it back in place while i had line still hooked to it. i think this was why my guides didnt come out perfectly staraight.

any help would be greatly appreciated

portageriverangler,

I use Flex Coat Guide Foot Adhesive to tack my guides to the blank while I align and wrap them. It allows me to wrap the guides on, and still be able to move them enough to do a final alignment before I apply the wrap finish. Also adds some cushion to the guide foot, and helps protect the blank from gouging if the guide foot hasn't been properly prepped (small sharp edges).

Tight Wraps!  

ohhh... dang i was wondering how you guys keep the feet on. so do you just eye ball it for straightness ?

portageriverangler,

If you have a light over head of your work area it is easy to follow the highlight on the blank and use it for the straight line.

Another way I learned when I first started out, was to place the stripper guide (the guide just in front of the seat) and make sure it was dead center of the center line of the reel seat, next set the tip top (eye ball this one) lined up with the stripper guide.

Now you should be able to place the rest of the guides (by eye ball) as you progress from the stripper up the blank to the tip.

Some builders I know use a laser light set up in the reel seat, and some use a length of white D size thread attached to the center of the stripper guide and tip top.

Lots of way to get your guides tacked on straight..

Tight Wraps!  

hope this makes sense,  another way to line them up is to turn the rod over & look at the guides from the rod side.  just observe how much of the guide is visible on either side of the rod.

i've also tried the laser light, string, etc., but, it just seems after awhile that you can "eyeball" them pretty accurately.

justtrying,

Greets bud your right on with that idea I had forgotten that one.

portageriverangler,l

Like justtrying stated after a time you get good enough to just eyeball the guide setup. I always check my alignment just after wrapping the guides by holding the rod up and looking down the rod from the butt over the seat and making any adjustments then for the final finish job...

Tight Wraps All!!!

my dad has a laser level so will give that a try.