Tom, great article on grinding guides. Now where can I get a "Unified Wheel"?? I checked both websites listed at the end of the article, and couldn't find it. Also, all the wheels sold for grinding marked "friable" were 6" +. You have a set-up in picture #4 that shows a wheel that's 2-3". Where can I find that.

Thanks, Billy

The small wheel you see is not a "friable" wheel. But the variable spped set-up allows you to run the wheel at a slow enough speed so that overheating is not as much of a problem as it would be on a grinder that runs at the usual, and constant, 3450RPMs.

You need to go back to those web sites you mentioned and drop them an email on the Unified wheels. They do have them, but probably not under that now somewhat generic name. Each of the various companies that make sanding/cutting/polishing supplies are likely to call such a wheel by their own trade name. I believe "Unified" was originally the name used by 3M to market their ScotchBrite brand wheels. Norton and some others offer similar wheels but under different trade names. Just tell them what you are looking for and I am sure they will respond with the correct product. These wheels are FANTASTIC and you will never use anything else for polishing and deburring your guide feet once you have tried one.

If you have a choice of grades, get the fine. It polishes/deburrs, but will not remove any material to speak of.

Thanks for the kind words on the article. A good deal of time and effort went into it. Prepping guide feet is an unpleasant task for most of us but the information we presented will hopefully make the job go much quicker and easier.

Tom Kirkman
RodMaker Magazine
www.rodmakermagazine.com

....................

Tom,
The Rodmaker article was terrific. Just wish I had known the stove bolt trick for holder small guides sooner. Would have saved a lot of wear and tear on my fingers.

Yeah - and what's a good trick for holding fly rod guides?

Bob Petti
[www.globalflyfisher.com]

Try using long nose vice grips with felt pads between guide and grip.