Just curious; has anyone here tried to use an alternative to a bumper guide in a simple spiral wrap. It seems to me that using something like a ring that surrounds the blank at the bumper guide location would serve to straighten the line path consderably, lighten the rod a bit, and reduce friction somewhat. I was thinking someting along the lines of a thin ring of ceramic or carbide.

Yes it's been tried. However, if you restrict the ability of the rod to change shape as it's flexed (go oval) you're looking at failure.

My early versions simply allowed the line to rub the blank. Eventually it wore the finish off but performance wasn't affected.

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Tom,

Good observation. Taking your comment furtherwhat if one were to use a piece of stainless leader wire wrapped like a mini trim wrap (say, 3-5 times around the blank) and superglued at one tiny spot between the wire and the blank. You would in effect be using a spring, right? If the wire were fairly light, and not wrapped too tightly, it should deform along with the blank.

I've seen it done using a couple of different materials including wire and HDPE strip spiral wrapped on the blank. This was on a couple of big saltwater rods, btw.

Pardon my ignorance but; what is HDPE strip and where can it be purchased?

High Density Polyethylene. Lots of suppliers out there. Simple plastics supply houses are a start.

The rods I'm describing have a straight up stripper, then immediate 180 guide for the next one with the material protecting the blank for line rub.

Correction to my earlier post, the material used on the rod I'm thinking of was UHMWPE or Ultra High Molecular Weight PE. A little different animal than HDPE

Couldn't you cut the feet off a recoil double foot guide (if it fits) and do what you're describing?

Saw a straight Stainless wire about 1/8 inch Dia. X 1 1/4 inch long with the ends flattened and wrapped on the side of the blank. Mihgt also try a flat piece

I've done teflon tubing as a bumper and it worked. I've also just done a wrap and used perma gloss to coat the wrap, that worked great. These were all on freshwater bass rods.

Good luck. Stan

Blanks usually have some thing like permagloss over them as clear ?? Will that not wear over time ?? Just like a blank finish

Bill - willierods.com

I have done it, and just because you use a ring doesn't mean you will "restrict the ability of the rod to change shape as it's flexed (go oval)", as stated above.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2011 10:04PM by Kerry Hansen.