I have built a lot of rods, most with snake guides. I have built 3 or 4 with single foots.None of those were fun! Sounds like a good idea, only half as many wraps.I have never found a good way to temporarily hold the darn things on for wrapping. I spend half my time crawling on the floor, hunting the last one that squirted off like a watermelon seed. Today I lost one, said the heck with it and wrapped the rod with regular snakes. I like the single footers on a finished rod. They look good and shoot better, but are a bugger to wrap. How do you guys do it? Has anyone got a good method? Can anyone convince me to try them again?
It is funny you say that. I am a beginner (3 rods built) and I absolutely hate to do snake guides. I would much rather do single foot any day of the week. I did my first fly rod with snake guides 2 weeks ago and said I would never do another rod with snakes again.
Snake or single foot. Lay the blank out, assembled. mark the guide spacing. Preferably on the table or bench, you are working on. Prepare and fit the guides.
When ready put a drop of super glue gel on a scrape of paper. Barely touch the bottom of the foot or feet of guide to the drop of glue. carefully line up the guide and when in position touch the guide to blank and hold for a few seconds. This should hold the guide fine for wrapping. The glue joint can be easily broken for fine tuning after wrapping or if a mistake is made.
I don’t know if it’s the right way to do it, but I take a x-acto knife and cut approximately one eighth inch strip of masking tape on the roll. I just use those strips to hold the guide in place till my thread reaches the tape then remove the tape and finish the wrap. It seems to work OK. Hope that helps. I like single foot guides as well.
Beaver
oldster -
Elastic string - you can probably get it at JoAnn Fabrics.
Take a couple wraps around the foot, pull it taut, and tie a couple overhand knots.
The elastic string makes it very easy to “adjust” the guide both up and down the blank and around the perimeter, if needed, and it will hold the guide securely in place while you wrap.
After you get enough wraps on to hold the guide securely, just nick the string with a sharp blade and it will pop off and out of the way.
I hesitated to do single foot guides. But I found it easier to work with them that two foot guides. If I don’t use them again, it will be because of the effect I’m looking for, not any difficulty working with them.
John
I bought some orthodonic rubber bands and they work perfect. Two different sizes 3/16" and 1/8". Works great for snakes, should be a walk in the park with single foot.
Exactly what I do. Works on single foot wire and single foot ceramics.
John hit it on the head. Elastic thread or I use rubber bands designed for rod building about a 1/16th of a inch in with and I double or triple them. Move the guides where you want leaves most of the foot available for thread when wraping and then they break very easy when the thread gets to them.
I picked up a stick of glue to temporarily hold guides on while you wrap. It’s white color and works pretty much the same as the tip-top version but isn’t as strong. I’ve found it holds the guide just enough while you wrap but if you need to adjust the guide the glue gives and you can move the guide around.
I’ve used tape in the past but I always seem to get little pieces of tape or glue residue around the guide feet.
Graphite rods - single foot. Bamboo - snake
I also use the elastic string purchased from the fabric store. It is cheap and works really well. When I wrap the string around the guide foot I wrap it around twice. It is easier to tie that way.
I have found that in order to properly keep pressure on the guide to the blank so the wrapping thread climbs up it properly and to keep the guides from turning each guide needs two elastic strings on them. That includes single foot guides as well.
Try the elastic sting method. Since each guide needs two strings or bands on each you might find it is easer for you to use a combination of elastic and tape. Sometimes I use a thin slice (around and eight of an inch) slice of tape as well.
Whatever works is the best method for you!
:DOldster, I use rubber bands cut from surgical tubing. If you know any medical people, they can get you all the 1/8 " you need. If not, send me a PM and I will send you some. You can also get it from aquarium stores. Simply cut off a short length of tubing, slip it on the blank and roll it to the proper position for the guide, slip the guide foot under it and put it right up against the upright part of the guide, begin your wrap and when you reach the rubber, cut it with sharp scissors or an exacto knife. Works for me!:o
Maybe I’ll try them again. I have tried some of the methods. I really like the orthodonic rubber bands for snakes. The rod I was building was a tiny 2 wt and I got frustrated after I was unable to find the guide I dropped. Thanks guys for all your ideas. I think I’ll try the surgical tubing next. Thanks for all the great ideas! Oldster
tubing next. Thanks again! Oldster
2 weight are a bugger to wrap as it is weather you are using snake or singlefoot guides. I did one and will not do another unless I am paid big big bucks
I’m with John. Elastic string is the cat’s meow.
I also use the elastic string. You can also find it at WallyWorld in the crafts dept, beading section.
I cut thin lengths of electrician tape. It can be stretched quite taut.
Tim
I am with Beaver and others on this. And I am really the beginner! Yet I have no trouble at all witih single foots. I use small Fuji Alconites #6. I use painters tape…the blue stuff. It leaves less residue on the rod. Cut into 1/8" strips and wrap tight right at the guide. Wrap thread up to it and then take it off and finish. I tried the elastic thread way and totally no good for me. Maybe I didn’t know the right way to use the thread. But anyway the painters tape works perfect for me. I really don’t see how the elastic thread works. Just one or two little strands around the guide. My guides would move too much. Of course part of that is due to my movements and lack of experience. But the 1/8" wide tape strips holds them well in place for me. Not trouble at all.
What ever method you find that works for you. Probably if you try several methods you will find one that is easy for you. Don’t give up yet. I find them really easy to do and I have never done a double foot. Keep trying…and you will probably find your own best way and then they will be easy…I hope.
Good Luck.
Gemrod
I also use the thin tape strips thing…however, with the smaller single footers, I like the glue trick, but I use a small drop of hot melt tiptop glue, applied with a bodkin…very cool…ModocDan
I use small rubber latex rubber bands. I purchase them thru the J. Stockard web site. When I get to the guides in the upper sections I usually need to double the band.
I do not like to use tape or glue due to residue.
When you get the thread up on the guide securely just cut the band off.
Ditto the thin strip of masking tape. Easy to apply, move, remove and hold the guide tightly.