First rod build, need help with guide spacing

[Hardy Boy]

I'm surprised you did that goid of a job !! ....

Nice work

Todd

[rogan]

Hey Todd:

Naw, I'm just kidding... I wouldn't have caught any grouper without you

[happyhooker]

On the topic of guide spacing: sure, you don't want to just slap them on anywhere.  I have read about a large number of theories on guide size & spacing, ranging from the old "funnel" (quite large stripper to quite small) techniques to the newer NGC and KR concepts.  They all make some sense and, quite frankly, I'm not sure I have found one better than another in practice.  My best casting spinning rod is the first one I ever built and used the old funnel plan with Aetna wire guides that everyone today tells me keeps the line too close to the blank to be any good.  I've gotten to the point that, with spinning rods at least, I test tape the guides in place, put the rod under a bit of load with line through the guides & adjust the spacing so as to wind up with what eyeballs as relatively even line spacing away from the blank.

I have never enjoyed using epoxies or any sort of line coating that requires a mechanical dryer and long drying times.  Several folks I have listened to that build/built rods for a living say too much exposure of that stuff in your lungs is not so good.  Have experimented with varnishes; very much a mixed result with latex-based products.  My current choice is an oil-based spar varnish (like Helmsman, but there are others too) that I apply very thinly with a small brush, then set the rod in a way where I manually turn the rod 180 degrees every couple of minutes for about 15 minutes total.  Let it dry, and repeat about 4 times.  No sags & no drips.  This kind of finish is a bit yellowish; I don't think it is objectionable; some might not use it on white wraps.  Another advantage is that you get a nice thin-coated protective wrap, and not a big blobby kind that looks like a wad of snot was use to coat the wraps.

Frank

[oc1]

Many people doing composite work develop an allergic reaction to epoxy over time.  Symptoms include skin redness, itching, swelling, respiratory problems or (like myself) severe itching.  You never get over it and just one whiff of epoxy will set it off.

For rod guides, I stiffen the threads with a coat of shellac and then wipe off the excess.  That is enough to prevent them from moving.

The slick high-build epoxy look is a relatively new development that didn't became popular until about 40 years ago.  Before that, the standard was a cost of color preserver followed by a coat of varnish.  I don't think one approach is more functional than the other.

[rogan]

To round out the story:

Thanks to everyone for the ideas, feedback and mild trash talk, I liked all of it. I completed the build on time and took the rod on my trip, but other than some practice casts, it didnt get used. We launched out of Long Beach, fished 20 miles west of Catalina, hooked two bluefin and landed one. We had fish around us most of the day, but they were being typical bluefin and decided to play finicky and hard to catch (the next day they bit everything thrown at them). Most of the fish we saw or graphed were under the 40 lb mark, so the 60lb rig wasnt needed. It's still a great setup and I look forward to catching fish with it. I have several blanks to wrap and several repairs to make, so more rod building fun in the future.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Sounds like you got it right. It seems to be tradition for me that a rod barely gets any action on the first trip it takes. I bet it'll slay next round.