Guide Sizing Chart Available?

When ordering guides for rodbuilding projects, how do you know what size to order?

Example, I'm getting ready to order some snake guides for a bamboo refinishing project. The spacing chart for this rod suggests guide sizes ranging from 2/0 thru 2. OK, I can order them but what if I didn't have a spacing chart? I'm curious as to what size these snake guides are? Also I've seen stripping guides sized #8, #10 or #12 but again, I don't have an idea what they actually size to.

Is there any online chart available that shows what size these guides are in the different size ranges? Or, a chart that lists guide height or length or something like that?

I'm probably not asking this very clearly.

Scondolf,
there is a program at http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/index.php?showforum=9
in the guide spacing forum, thread 55 references a boo program, and 69 a graphite program.

Here's a picture of a big guide and you can use him in SW Wisconsin or if you want to fish the Eastern part of the state this guide does good work:http://www.tightlinesflyshop.com/?cat=18

Sorry, couldn't help myself, I'm in a weird mood today.

Thanks Clay - he probably only guides for SMALLmouth and LARGEmouth bass right?

No-Tye - The programs you referenced will be VERY helpful. However I'm still looking for a way to determine what size a guide is. Example, I have some leftover guides laying around loose and in different sizes. How do I determine what size they are? I'm hoping there's a chart available somewhere.

I suppose I could order some guides in different sizes (they're not too expensive) and just keep them as reference but I was hoping there was another way.

Comparing them to a known size is the best way but here's a guide I've used to sort out unknown sizes. Don't remember where I got it, but it seems close.

size - height - diameter
2/0 - 0.235 - 0.157
1/0 - 0.265 - 0.180
1 - 0.292 - 0.199
2 - 0.325 - 0.221
3 - 0.370 - 0.239
4 - 0.420 - 0.276
5 - 0.452 - 0.315
6 - 0.475 - 0.354

Clay, I just about fell off my chair laughing when I seen that.

Skondolf,

Try going to http://www.fishpacbay.com/products/g...ly-guides.html . On that web page, scroll down to the "Model SN - Fly Snake" guides, and click on Show Product Data . Several dimensions are shown for different size guides (in millimeters).

Is that what you need?

Flyfisherjoe and PRM -

Thanks - exactly what I was looking for.

here's a collection of guide info input by various rod builders that inlcudes guide size, height (blank to ring), ID, ring material, frame material, weight, model by manufacturer, etc: http://rodcomponents.koolhost.com/guides.htm . . . not all-encompassint (yet), so update it to include info on whatever you ultimate decide on !


- smc -

Purchase a digital caliper from Harbor Freight. They are on sale now. Then measure your own and take notes. You can compile your own data.