3 Step Prep For Easy Fishing Guide Installation

The Purpose of Guide Prep

Rod building is a craft that is as methodical as it is rewarding. Thinking, planning, and preparing ahead of time help facilitate each step as you go from mere components to a completed custom fishing rod.

Filing down the guide foot is important because it ensures the wrapping thread transitions smoothly from the blank up onto our guide foot.

The guide foot often comes with a gritty texture, so without preparation it will scratch your blank and snag your thread wrap. Take the extra time to prep your guides for installation and you will avoid the looming migraine of a restarting a failed guide wrap.

3 Simple Steps To Prep Rod Guides

Facilitating the guide wrapping process, this added measure will ultimately save your time, resources, and hairline. As easy as it is important, prepping your rod guides has absolutely no downside when done correctly.

Just follow these 3 simple steps for guide prep success:

Step 1: File the Guide Foot

To start, use a small file because it has less bulk, which makes it more accurate for finer, detailed work like grinding down the guide foot. Then, work that small file back and forth across the tip of the guide foot.

Continue grinding until the guide foot becomes a point. Remember, the better the point, the easier it will be for you to transition the thread wraps up from the rod blank onto the guide foot.

Step 2: Buff the Bottom of the Guide Foot

Next, buff the underside of the guide foot with a piece of light sand paper. Light sand paper is your best bet because it works well to remove burrs without damaging or taking away too much material from the guide foot.

These burrs often form while you grind the tip of the foot down to a point. Some burrs are created in manufacturing, so always double check for those damaging burrs before installing your guides.

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Continue buffing the underside of the guide foot with light sand paper until you have removed all remaining burrs.

Step 3: Check Your Guide Prep

After Step 1 and 2, check one last time that all bits and burrs are buffed out of the metal guide frames. Remember, any lingering burrs could scratch the blank and worst of all, cause complete rod failure.

For more custom rod building knowledge and supplies, visit Mud Hole Custom Tackle today!