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Jackster's thread on rod assembly brings up my question:
which rod manufacturers put dots on the rod to make aligning the pieces easier? and since finding the "spline" (is that the word for the direction a rod bends?) is part of making the rod, could these dots not be easily put on any rod as it is made?
In a word ... yes. When I build rods for Cary I always add alignment dots. It's so much nicer than hearing him whine!:p Acrylic paint on a toothpick works well, and should it ever wear off, it's easily re applied.
I use an acrylic paint pen to make the alignment dots. I put them on every rod, now.
I never saw the need once a rod was built. I line up the guides...thats all thats required....
If I get a rod that doesn't have them on it, I will use my bodkin and a white acrylic paint and then coat it with flexment. None have wore off yet. I like them cause sometimes I get absent minded sometimes when streamside and it helps me to get everything lined up right the first time.
Sully, two of my rods don't have guides on the butt piece, so only the reel tells me whether everything is lined up.
thanks for the hints, folks! never knew anything would stick to a rod finish--good old acrylic paint!
I've noticed that most rod makers dotn include the alignment dots except on the higher end models in their lineup. Others have tried to convince me that it was a feature that was an extra pain in the derriere for the mfgrs to include, but I just can't see how it could be that big of a deal. I have one rod with dots, an Echo, and I appreciate it. Is it an absolute necessity? Certainly not. Is it a nice touch that shouldnt be too terribly hard to include? I think so.
Some folks including myself add the dot with a Sharpie....can be gotten in a metallic silver or metallic gold.
I own 4 Z Axis rods and none have dots. I think I may get some acrylic paint and put dots on them.
TB
Some folks like them and some don't. I try to make them inconspicuous as they are not a major design or artistic element to the rod.
Acrylic paint pens can be had at most art supply stores in a multitude of colors. A gold dot on a Tiger Eye blank will be visible, but not overbearing. Silver on a gray blank, you get the drift.
I have one 2pc rod that has 2 Jungle Cock eye feathers as alignment dots! Looks good!;)
Oh, wow! What a cool reason to eitherQuote:
I have one 2pc rod that has 2 Jungle Cock eye feathers as alignment dots! Looks good! Warren
get another custom rod
or
make one myself...
get thee behind me , Satan!
Warren are we talking about fly rods or what? "Jungle Cock eye feathers" :confused:
Warren P. has shown me the method of putting on alignment dots! there the best thing.
What is the best cover to use on the alignment dots? Do you think super glue, loctite, etc. might work?
Even at that...once you get the rod assembled and strung up...if say the line is rubbing the edge of the stripper or something...just turn the butt section to get it to line up. If you CANT do that by eyeball..no amount of dots is going to help you out.Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyP
I have some that do have them..and some that dont...but if its worth adding them...Id sure put at least 1 coat of finish over it ( them) so that I didnt have to go thru that routine again
A spot of Sally Hanson's would work. When I'm building, now, they go on before I do the wraps and then get a bit of rod finish over them. I put them on the guide side of the blank and they are never seen while you are fishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by lastchance
You can get a whole rainbow of colors to use at a full blown art supply store. Get the smallest tip you can, around .5 mm or so. You can also do it with a really fine nib on an old style dip pen. My personal opinion is that most Sharpies are too big. Maybe one of the "micro" tips, but those are still almost a mm wide.
Warren likes those JC alignment "dots" so much I guess I'll have to do that on a rod. :smile: