Replacing line guides

[Fin Addict]

I have a spining rod where the ceramic insert on the rearmost guide has disappeared. Any advice on replacing it esp regarding removal of the damaged guide. I have replaced several tips but never had this happen on a rod I deemed worthy of repair. Thanks in advance!

[mark]

Well good news bad news, what you have to do is take off old fram and windings and start over.
save old fram so you can get the same size.
just so happens i'm doing the same thing to a rod now. or find a rod making shop in your area, if you do it your self you'll need the thread and epoxy to coat thread after your done. hope this helps. mark

[FJH1]

Fin Addict, I've had this happen a couple of times. Fortunately (or un-fortunately!)I have always had a couple of broken rods around. I measured the inside diameter of the guide that was missing the ceramic insert and found the same size good ceramic insert on one of my trashed rods. I then took a pair of side cutters and gently snipped the metal around the ceramic insert on the trashed rod and removed the new insert. I applied epoxy to the insert and installed it into the guide. I realize this may not be the most professional way to do this job but it has worked perfectly a couple times for me when I was pressed for time.

Best Regards,

FJH

[Fin Addict]

How do you remove the old guide, thread and windings? Is there a solvent to remove the epoxy? I am worried about damaging the rod if I just cut it off. FJH1's solution may be a possibility as I have butt ends for several rods broken over the years but I would prefer to replace the whole thing if reasonably possible.

[REW]

Really simple -- use a heat gun.
A heat gun will soften the epoxy and a razor blade will clean off the excess.

I make the first cut on the guide side -- so that the razor blade is sliding against the metal guide and not cutting into the blank.

Then I reheat the residue, and keeping the razor blade perpendicular to the rod -- scrape off all the excess.

Depening on the age and type of rod -- it might be in your best interest to get a new rod -- depending on original cost of rod, or if you reeally like the rod, and the rod is several years old, you might want to replace all the guides with lighter more modern guides -- if the blank and handle is worth keeping.

Because I don't like finish on graphite -- I use the same heat gun technique to take all the finish off all the blanks that I turn into rods. Again, use the heat gun technique to soften the epoxy and then the razor blade to remove all the finish. Then I do a final sand with sandpaper -- I start with 150 grit and go down to 1000 wet and dry -- used wet. Very similar to body shop (auto) technique. The removal off all the finish makes a rod lighter, more sensitive, and doesn't hurt the strength at all. After all, the strength of the rod is in the blank, not the finish.

Take care

if you have any other questions
e-mail me at
hfliier@aol.com

and I will try to help.

REW