Several years ago on one of the
rod building boards someone ask what was the least favorite part of
building the rod. The answers that came back were overwhelming
"guide foot preparation" ... almost everyone agreed that this,
while not fun, is one of the most important steps in making a good looking rod.
It is what allows a smooth transition of the thread from the blank to the guide
foot. Most guides, just out of the box, are going to need some prep
work.
When I started building rods, I
used a small tooth-file but soon moved to a Dremel tool with a fine
grinding stone attachment. It went much faster and gave me better and
smoother results. Be careful when doing this because you can take off a lot of
material in a short time. Go slow and easy! I strive to get a
"U" shape on the end of the guide and extend the length
of the ramp up the guide foot. If the guides are large I will take off the shoulders
so as not to create a tunnel between the thread and the guides. This makes the
thread finish application easier and look better.
After you finish the top of the
guide foot be sure to check for any burrs on the edges and on the bottom of the
guide. These can scratch or damage the blank and must be removed. 600 grit
wet/dry sand paper is good for this but it can be done with the Dremel if you
are very, very careful.
The photos below are before and
after shots of Fuji BLAG #6 single foot and a BLNAG # 12 stripper.
After the guide feet have been
dressed, I use a black sharpie to color the feet. This hides the ground area
under the thread after the flex coat has been applied. Good guide foot
preparation is not something you see on a finished rod, but lack of it will be
very obvious.
Hope this has been helpful, please
comment, and let me know if there are any topics you would like
to see addressed. Thanks for taking the time to read this
Dennis
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