I just recently started switching over all my rods to micro guides and am very impressed so far. The first rod that I tore down and rebuilt was one of my 7' 6" Fenwick Techna AV Telescoping Pitching Sticks. It was a very tip heavy rod that I need to counterbalance with about 1 1/2 oz in the butt. After taking everything off and adding the micro guides I will only need to add a quarter to the rear to get it to balance perfectly.

Here are some pictures of it next to the exact same rod with the old guides on it.

I also cut the foregrip off and spiral wrapped the guides. It was also recomended to me that I take one of the middle, medium sized guides and use that for the first one, I then tapered it down with a 5mm for the spiral bumper, 4mm, then the rest are 3mm. I also used the existing tip since Batson doesn't make one large enough to fit this rod.

I also cut about 1/2" off the length of the threaded portion of the reel seat (VERY carefully with an Exacto knife). Now when I lock down on the reel foot I don't have any threads showing, which is nice.

If anybody is curious, the thread color on the Techna AV's can be hard to color match by just looking at pictures in a magazine or on the internet, fortunatly I was able to find the exact same color match of the thread wraps. For the brown it is Gudebrod Chestnut #5274, for the green it is Gudebrod Dark Green #5896 and for the gold band it is Gudebrod HT Metallic Copper #9396

I have been so impressed with the Micro Guides that I will be doing this to all my rods over the next year.

Hope you like it

Looks good - great work!  You have found one of the benefits of the micro-guides with the reduced weight.  Love the look you have on those rods.

Eddie

Beautiful work!

Thanks guys!!

Very nice

That is great work! How are you removing the epoxy?

That is great work! How are you removing the epoxy?

Thank You!! I take an Xacto Knife and carefully shave off the epoxy and threads on top of the guide feet. That will loosen the guide so you can remove it, and most of the threads and epoxy will be able to be peeled off. The left over epoxy that isn't over anything to protect the blank, I do the same but will only go down to the threads so I don't damage the blank then carefully cut apart the threads so I can peel everything off. You will probably go through a few blades doing this but keeping a sharp blade is key.

When everything I want to remove is off (since this is an unfinished/unpainted blank) I take a 320 sanding sponge to remove anything that may be left over.

The next rod I do I will try and remember to snap a few process pictures and post a how to thread on this.

Thanks! BTW, your work looks better and far cooler than the original.  8-) The removed foregrip really stands out and makes it more appealing fo sho.

That is a great looking rod and d**n good work and makes me wish I was that talented and thanks for sharing

Its got that "factory build" look, which is kind of cool.  Most customs look "really custom," but this flies under the radar.  I'm sire it will fish really well.  Very nice.

That looks very sharp - can you take a close-up pic of the winding check work you did? From this distance it looks like you matched the label decoration very well.

Now you just need to convert the handle to a split grip.

That looks very sharp - can you take a close-up pic of the winding check work you did? From this distance it looks like you matched the label decoration very well.

Now you just need to convert the handle to a split grip.

Sorry Rubba, got busy and forgot to reply. I'll get some pics posted for you in the next day or two. As far as the label decoration, the only thing that I was unable to match exactly was the thread size, I believe the green and gold is size C or D and I used A since that is what the store I bought everything from had, only noticable if you look VERY closely.

As far as the split grip, I love the looks of them, and have built a couple for myself, but I prefer to fish with the regular grip, just more comfortable for me.