Rodbuilding questions

Ok, I have the Flexcoat "How we do it" DVD and another book on rodbuilding that is a good start but I have some more questions.

First in both they say to use tape under the reel seat to fit the blank to the seat. Well I do not think this is the best way so in looking around I found out they make graphite arbors. Are these the best thing to use? (I will be making casting rods with exposed blank seats and no foregrip) and do they come in different sizes for different reel seats?

Second I do not like foregrips so I would like to put a winding check/epoxy ramp in front of the rear seat. Is there an article or something someone can point me to on this? It does not look hard but nothing is as easy as it seems and knowing in advance would be great.

Reel seats= I have a digital mic and have measured out the point where the back of the reel seat should set. Now do I want to go with that size or one size smaller and sand as needed?

Guides and spacing= I plan on using all Alconite guides so should I buy them by the set or individually? I assume the guide chart is what I should go off of for spacing but I have two odd length blanks = 6'8" and 7'2" where would I get their spacing.

Sorry for all the questions but most of what I find on rodbuilding is just adding a pre-made handle kit to a blank and using a similar length rod as a spacing chart.

Allen

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Munkin &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
First in both they say to use tape under the reel seat to fit the blank to the seat. Well I do not think this is the best way so in looking around I found out they make graphite arbors. Are these the best thing to use? (I will be making casting rods with exposed blank seats and no foregrip) and do they come in different sizes for different reel seats?</td></tr></table>

Tape works, but if it gets wet will degrade over time. You're better with foam/graphite arbors. You will want the Outside Diameter to match the Inside Diameter of the reel seat and then you will ream the ID of the arbor to match the OD of the blank. Obviously you have epoxied the arbors in teh reel seat prior to reaming them to fit the blank.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Munkin &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Second I do not like foregrips so I would like to put a winding check/epoxy ramp in front of the rear seat. Is there an article or something someone can point me to on this? It does not look hard but nothing is as easy as it seems and knowing in advance would be great.
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Batson makes a winding check the fit size 16 seats. This is the easiest. Epoxy checks are a little more work, but really pretty easy. I've got some directions somewhere. I'll look for them.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Munkin &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Reel seats= I have a digital mic and have measured out the point where the back of the reel seat should set. Now do I want to go with that size or one size smaller and sand as needed?
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I would go a size smaller (.5) and ream the seat to fit.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Munkin &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Guides and spacing= I plan on using all Alconite guides so should I buy them by the set or individually? I assume the guide chart is what I should go off of for spacing but I have two odd length blanks = 6'8" and 7'2" where would I get their spacing.
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Individual. Just buy all 5s or 6s. Try micros if you want smaller. You don't need larger. I'd strongly recommend static spacing and not following a chart. http://www.rodbuilding.org/lib....html

Everything Cidgrad said is correct, I'll strongly second the static guide testing, it works everytime and will provide you with what's best for that blank with whatever guides you decide to work with.