So I used 9 guides + tip = 10 guides total on a 7ft casting blank.

I spaced them out and did a static deflection test. However under load the line touches the blank between the tip and 1st guide and the 1st and 2nd guide. No matter where I move the guides, the line still touches the blank.

I had no choice but to add another guide and respace everthing, now the line flows evenly and does not touch the blank at all, so my question is am I doing something wrong, or is it ok to have 10 guidts plus tip top = 11 guides overall for a 7 ft. blank.

Seems exessive, but that was the only way I could get the line to flow without touching the blank under load.

Any idea?

Thanks all!!

Bassripper,

This is just another good case for spiral wrapped rods. If you put those guides on the bottom, they cannot touch the blank. Go to www.rodbuilding.org and do a search on 'simple spiral' or 'bumper spiral' and check out what the experts have to say. I guarantee you will not regret it. All of my baitcasting rods are spiral wrapped except one and it will be when I get a little time. JMHO

Ronnie

So I used 9 guides + tip = 10 guides total on a 7ft casting blank.

I spaced them out and did a static deflection test. However under load the line touches the blank between the tip and 1st guide and the 1st and 2nd guide. No matter where I move the guides, the line still touches the blank.

I had no choice but to add another guide and respace everthing, now the line flows evenly and does not touch the blank at all, so my question is am I doing something wrong, or is it ok to have 10 guidts plus tip top = 11 guides overall for a 7 ft. blank.

Seems exessive, but that was the only way I could get the line to flow without touching the blank under load.

Any idea?

Thanks all!!

bassripper2000, if that is how many guides it took to keep the line up off the blank it isn't IMO excessive (unless you are using double foot guides).

But Alpster is right, it is a good reason for doing the spiral wrap.

There is one other way to keep the line up off of the blank in a conventional wrap, use higher frame single foot guides after the stripper.

Tight Wraps!!!

Hmnm,

thanks guys.  Will look into the spiral wrapped, never ever even seen one.  What is the advantage of it besides cosmetic?

Hello Bassripper,

There are several reasons for this wrap. Cosmetics are not among them. This wrap goes back many years, but I will not go there for now.

Line chafing is one of the main reasons but the most important reason, IMHO, is the problem with torsion. Regardless of the guides you choose to use, there will be a great amount of torsion in the last couple of feet of the tip area, with the guides on the top. When you put a load on the rod, the tip will try to turn. Many rods fail because of this when there is to much load or a sudden jerk on the rod. I know we all are very careful for this not to happen, but sometimes, well....(:>)

The best I have found is to use a #16 SVSG type which is a high frame guide. All the rest will be NSGs after the first 4.( Or equivalent cheaper guides) I put the first guide at about 45 degrees to the left, the next(#12) at 90 degrees and a 10 and 8 to round out to the bottom. The first four will be double foot guides and the rest # 6 or #7. A light to Med. Bass rod I would use all #6s to the tip. The lower to the rod the better.

Get yourself a 1/8" dowel or small rod tip and slide it right through them to be sure you have a nice straight line to the tip.

Now this is only how I do it. I did not write this to get into a spitting contest with any other rod builders.

Good luck with that.

lobos69

bassripper,

A spiral wrap will do several things... it will reduce some of the chances of a rod failure, it WILL reduce user fatigue, it will balance better and be lighter due to less guides and more.  They are not any more difficult to set up than traditional rods, just a little different.  I like and recommend the "simple spiral" even though I build a variation for my own rods.  It's pretty much foolproof and it is the bomb, according to everyone I have built for or let use one.

If you need help, let any of us know.

Lobos 69,

We aren't about spitting contests here...  and especially in this section... any exchange of ideas or info is just that.  Some things we may do differently but we each learn from the other's methods and that is always good.

-keith

I would be remiss if I did not agree with Alpster and suggest that you go to www.rodbuilding.com. Go there and ask Tom Kirkman if you can get a copy of the Sept/Oct 2000 RodMaker magazine. Or at least the article by Ralph O'Quinn titled Spiral Wrap For Casting Rods.

This is a great article with photos, etc.

If you are planning on doing this yourself, I would not leave home without it(:>)

Regards,

lobos69

P.S. Thank you Keith

ARRGH

I wrapped all 11 guides yesterday. Spent a great deal of time too. Now the spiral wrap has peaked my interest.

Should I cut off all my guides and spiral wrap it.

Tough Call...

Thanks Guys.

Well, I am building a spinning rod after this one.  I will spiral wrap that from the bottom up.....

Just kidding.... But what if it worked???? US PATENT!! The Bassripper Rap  ;D

bassripper2000,

IMPO the wrapping of 11 guides was good practice. Now because you are using a spinning blank remove the guides do a simple bumper spiral and reduce the tip weight buy using about 3-4 maybe even 5 less guides.

You will not regret doing so...

Tight Wraps!!

Ok,

I rewrapped last nite, holy crap that took forever (Hand wrapping)

I searched and searched to find angles but all I could find anything good.

So I left the first two guides (Stripper and one after) straight on top, then I tured the 3rd one to the left, then the 4th one to 90 degrees left, then the 4th one 180 and the rest straight to the tip.  I just guessed at the angles really and ran the line through.  Seems ok. So I wrapped them.  Hopefully it will be good.  Just another thing is I used Garnet and Pearl white.  I put on Flex Coat Color preserver, such a pain because it white and if you don't get the excess off in time, it doesn't look even and gives you spots and discoloration.  So I got mad and coated the wraps with cp and took a paper towel and blotted off the excess instead of using a brush.  Looks good I think, just a thought.  Am I supposeed to thin that stuff before I use it.  I wonder why it's not clear.  So after that the pearl white trim turned a bluish tint, great.

Any way keep the white color white.  Anywho, sorry for the long post, just thought I would share last nite's ordeal with you guys.  But all in all, I am happy for the experience and I wanted to say thanks for all your guy's help.  Hopefully, my rods will get better.  I'll post pics once it's all done,  

So for some reason I did not feel comfortable with my spiral wrap, so I redid it again back to the original way. I will build my next on spiral thanks to the help of lobos69 and do some more research. But until then, here are the pics and wanted to thanks you guys for all your help. Reel Mech has been an especially great in helping me along. Here is my first build, hopefully it isn't too bad :-/

Thanks again you guys!!