How important or necessary are winding checks? What is the purpose of them? I’ve seen rods with and without them. Are they funtional or cosmetic? Jim:confused:
From the limited rodbuilding I’ve done and what I’ve read, it seems as though the winding check is mostly there to provide a transition between the grip and the blank. I’m not sure there’s any necessary function you’d lose by omitting one.
from janns netcraft
“Winding checks are used as a trim piece to finish a rod handle where it meets the rod blank”
they can also cover up any mistakes in that area
cosmetic if you ask me
Cosmetic for sure. Nice to see and they are sharp to see as a continuation from the seat, check and guides. But the design was made to cover up the hole in case the grip was made too big. They can be made of rubber,metal or wood. Even saw them made of plastic. A tight fitting cork grip to the blank can be done and you could actually wrap a metallic thread at the tip of the grip and it’ll look like a check.
It’s another thing for the rod builder to decide and choose. It really has no function on the rod at all.
Randy
Good. I really didn’t want to have to search for them on the internet and take the chance of getting the wrong size or spending unnecessay money. Thanks folks. Jim
They may not be necessary, but they certainly do finish off a rod build in a professional manner.
Even one of the flexible vinyl winding checks that fit a wide range of blanks adds a nice touch to a rod. I do not build a rod without a check of some sort. I have used metal, vinyl, and wood checks I bought and have made checks with rubber washers and stainless steel washers that I put in my doming block and beat into shape then polished.
I think they are both functional and cosmetic. The winding check does more then cover up a slightly off center hole in the cork or a not so perfectly round hole in the cork, it also protects the leading edge of the cork.
Winding checks are available every where rod building parts and supplies are sold. If a vendor sell blanks, guides and seats etc. and not winding checks, I’d find another vendor. As far as spending? Vinyl WC’s are only about 70 cents each and anodized aluminum less then $2. Nickle Silver up to $3 or $4. Cost is hardly a reason to forgo one when considering the aestetics it adds.
I guess I would call them creatively cosmetic. However they could potentially hide extra epoxy so as to keep moisture from going under the cork