Removing old guides for repairs or upgrades

[ar-elbers]

Ok so I now understand what the backbone is and thought I would check my rods. Surprise only the nitro has the guides on properly, I guess you get what you pay for . Unless I fluked it for the nitro

So how do I remove the guides from the blank and correct this problem? I also have a snyder glass that needs a guide replaced so I am guessing the technique would be the same?

[Emo]

Gday mate.

Easiest way is to heat the epoxy up with a candle or similar then once is goes a little soft scrape it away with your nail or a blunt knife. Once you've got the epoxy off just use a blade to carefully cut the thread, that's it.

[StuKlose]

ar-elders just because the guides are not on the back bone does not mean there is a problem. There is two different theories on where the guides should be placed on a blank.

With modern blanks and the way they are made the back bone does not have the effects they once did. Some top end rod manufacturers actually place the guides on the straightest axis of the rod.

I would check the back bone and if it really stands out when rolling it you may still want to change your guides. If the back bone is only slight i wouldn't worry about it. Also often blanks have two back bones so just make sure the guides aren't placed on the second back bone.

Then there is the working back bone which can be slightly different depending where you are holding the rod and also how you are finding the back bone.

These are interesting things i have discovered and been shown by a very experienced rod builder as i am learning.

Stu

[Shortlite]

Originally Posted by ar-elbers

Ok so I now understand what the backbone is and thought I would check my rods. Surprise only the nitro has the guides on properly, I guess you get what you pay for . Unless I fluked it for the nitro

So how do I remove the guides from the blank and correct this problem? I also have a snyder glass that needs a guide replaced so I am guessing the technique would be the same?

G'day Elbers,
The spine/backbone is an effect, that comes about due to the nature of blank manufacture. It's importance to a fishing rod's action, power, curvature and performance is actually quite unimportant.

As Stu has mentioned, many manufacturers work to the straightest axis in order to build the best looking (straight) rod.

To answer your question, use a bit of gentle heat, moving over the epoxied area, to soften the epoxy. Slice the thread wraps and epoxy over the guide foot, and peel off. Remove the guide when it is free, and unravel the remaining thread. Very gentle moving heat is key, so as not to overheat the blank. You just want to soften the epoxy. To remove any leftover epoxy residue/ ridges, again, lightly heat, and use a popsicle stick to rub it as if you were sanding. This provides enough friction to take it off without taking off the blank finish.

[ar-elbers]

Thanks for the info guys,

Upon a second look at my rods there is only one that really bothers me. The guides face to the side of the apparent backbone, I will take it into the tackle store and ask them about it. I have never felt comfortable with the casting and retrieving lures on this rod. I also have a couple of old Snyder glasses I picked up from the tip for ten bucks! but a couple of the guides are damaged and need replacing

[crusty]

When taking guides off first up I dont worry about heating, I just slice through the epoxy and thread on top of the guide foot, so the guide foot protects the blank. Then the rest of the thread and epoxy peels off.
Good tip with the popsicle stick to remove the leftover epoxy, Shortlite. Have found that to be a painful job.

Question - Is the rod your worried about a two piece?
If it isn't you'll need to fix the reel seat as well. Thats a bit harder than guides.

[ar-elbers]

Yeah I realised that but im safe on the Snyders as they swivel around at the moment, like I said 10 buck for two Snyders the blanks are good and the seats can be fixed, just need to replace the guides. The other rod is a two piece so I guess I am in luck