I am getting ready to make my first rod but i have a few questions first. I am making a swimbait rod on a 7'11'' blank.
1. How do you know what size guides to use? ( small as possible)
2. After wrapping guide do you coat them with epxoy, color preserver, or both?
3. Are winding checks needed, if so how do you know what size?
1) Preference really, but the rule of thumb is to use the smallest guide that gets the job done. Will it pass your knot? Do you Ice fish? etc..
2) Epoxy always. Color preserver only if you wish to preserve the original color of the thread used for wrapping.
3) Preference. I've seen guys use no checks, o rings, alum checks, vinyl checks. From my experience its more of a visual than functional decision.
Good answers, I'll add my 2 cents
1) Agreed, small as possible. For a first rod, I'd stay away from micro guides though. They can be frustrating when you are not used to them, and there isn't much room for error- there are less wraps around the foot so you need to do a good job or you could have issues.
2) I always use color preserver, even on NCP thread. I just like the way it looks, and I don't want to have to worry about fading.
3) I agree with booten, this is aesthetics. I personally don't really use them much. I build rods with my priorities being mostly function and not a lot of emphasis on looks. One or two color guide wraps, rarely a butt wrap, and now I've switched to solid black EVA foam and no cork. It's a matter of preference.
I recommend watching the Mudhole videos on Youtube, they were really helpful for me when I got started.
EDIT: One more tip for a newbie- Don't try to mix up a bunch of epoxy and get all the guides done in one sitting. You will get done with a few of them and since you are new you will be moving slow, and the epoxy will start to thicken. By the time you are done, it will be like trying to spread refrigerated maple syrup on your guides, and you will get frustrated, out comes the hair dryer to thin the epoxy, etc. How do I know about this mess? Umm, somebody told me, yeah that's it ;-) Seriously though, I am just not in that big of a hurry, so especially with the first coat, I still usually only mix enough epoxy to do 2-4 guides, take a break and then do a few more.
Modified by Hydrilla_NC at 11:12 AM 4/14/2011
I disagree on Hydrilla's micro guide comment.
No reason not to use them. If you don't ever build with anything else, you wouldn't know anything else is easier (or tougher).
I don't think it matters. If you want micros, do not be afraid to use them, they really are not bad, hard, or tough. That's a mental thing.
Most folks use winding checks to hide ream jobs that aren't exact. They may have some space on the grip that is visible. A winding check hides that. It lets you be sloppy if ya want to be.
It must be a YMMV thing, because they weren't easy for me at first as a newbie, and I know a couple others that have said the same thing. I did learn real quickly what happens if you have the thread tension too high- let's just say it's a good idea to have your safety glasses on in that case
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