If you build rods and do not have one of these, have someone slip this into your stocking for Christmas.

http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog/Other/Guide-Grinder-Holder

I prep most guide feet on my bench grinder with the exception of smaller guides and for those I use a grinding stone on the dremel. I gave up on fly guides. Like to have my feet rounded over and coming to a point - notice I said, like to have. I struggle getting this look. I know it's just a perfection thing as all that is needed is just a good ramp for the thread to come up, but, I try to get that nice rounded over point.

To do this I usually wind up taking the guide foot and just gently touching into the side of the wheel as I try to rotate it to get the rounded surface. This takes forever and does not always get the results I want - workable - but not the look I would like to have. Also, on the smaller guides I get the top of fingers and fingernails scraped up by the way I hold the guides.

Ordered one of these grinders and gave it a shot tonight. Took a little while to get use too but once there it is great! Hold/steady the thin barrel part in my left hand and rotate with my right while moving across the wheel. Couple of passes and I have the look I have been wanting - rounded foot coming to a point. I love this thing!

This is a great tool!

Eddie

that truly looks a great tool I'll be getting one.

EJ, being a rod building virgin I'm wondering if I'm reading your explination correctly. Are you thinning the feet in order to make for an easier transition w/the thread from the balnk to the guide?

Thanks,

Paul

Pretty much, in addition the process will make your wraps look uniform and smooth.  I have this tool and its great, but when I started using micro guides I stopped using it.

Bassectomy, yes, just like Booten was saying it helps the thread smoothly "climb" up the guide. Will give you a nice smooth transition from the blank to the guide and help the thread lay a lot smoother on the guide.

Here is a #6 fly guide. This is the FIRST time I have ever been able to do fly guides, even with a file. Sorry for the bad/fuzzy pic.

Prepped guide feet using the tool. For the most part this is the way I want to get the feet to look. This tool is about the only way I can consistently acheive on smaller guides.

#30 guide feet. There were done by hand.

Painted up and ready to be installed - after they dry.

Three sets of BYAG-309's - 27 guides - prepped and ready to be installed. All total took about 45 mins. Would have spent that just on one set - and no prep of fly guide feet.

Eddie

Thanks Eddie, will add to my list.

nice prep work

I'm still much smoother and faster with my my needle files and hand holding but for power tools, I think that tool makes great sense. (especially from a safety standpoint)

Flechero,

I can believe it, its just my big old fat fingers get in the way.  Especially on single foot guides.  Double foot guides are somewhat easy as I can hold onto one foot while prepping the other - pulling the ring against the outside of my finger.  But single foots guides, the smaller ones, less that a 20 or so, just can't keep a good hold on them.

Eddie

Thanks for the clarification Eddie Nice looking set up you got there. I gotta clean out the basement and give myself a decent work area. I've always heard how hard and tedious rod building/modification was. But for me it's been very satisfying as well as relaxing. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Flechero,

I can believe it, its just my big old fat fingers get in the way. Especially on single foot guides. Double foot guides are somewhat easy as I can hold onto one foot while prepping the other - pulling the ring against the outside of my finger. But single foots guides, the smaller ones, less that a 20 or so, just can't keep a good hold on them.

Eddie

It took some getting used to in the beginning.  I also have fat fingers- I actually hold the small guides on each side between the finger and finger nail...  and rest on a little wood block for filing.  It sounds odd when reading, but it takes less than 30 seconds per guide to shape them.