I have Seen some unique alignment marks feather patterns in the ferrule thread wraps. I am going to be building a 4 piece rod and am looking some ideas on how this is accomplished. I am referring to a mark to line up on each piece. I am not wanting anything fancy just a way to line up the pieces.

I put a white dot on both sections (male and female) with a paint pen obtained from a hobby shop. Wouldn't sell a rod without them! Even have customers bringing their factory rods to me to put the dots on.

I was looking at the local orris shop and it looked like paint or wax. Thanks for the quick reply I will venture to Michaels to find one .

I add some pigment to finish epoxy, any color you want. Dip the head of a small brad in the pigmented epoxy and touch to the rod where you want the alignment dot. It is very durable, looks good and does not need to be over coated. You can use marbling pigment, or the pigment from Testors model enamel paint. Practice making the dots on an old blank or even a piece of paper so you get a feel for how to get the dot size you want. If you make a mistake wipe it off with DNA. A small bottle of the model enamel is cheaper than a pen.
Norm

For simple dots Decal Connection offers them . They do have to be overcoated and they transfer better on some surfaces than others.

I find the head of a common straight pin leaves a "dot" the right size. Just touch the head of the pin to the surface of the paint, and barely touch the painted pinhead to the surface of the blank. Don't try to adjust the size of the "dot" once you have applied it. Needless to say, the blank where the dot goes should be free of wax, polish, fingerprints, or anything else which would keep the paint from adhering.

I just line-up the guides
Herb

Lol...herb...I have to agree. I do the same thing. Put the rod together and sight down the blank. I'll put dots on blank if customer asks for them otherwise no dots.

Some people even put the two largest sections of a four-piece rod together first?

Phil, yes,what is your point?

Some folks find it easier to assemble the bottom two sections, then the top two, and then assemble those as you would a regular 2-piece rod. Go with whatever works for you.

Putting alignment dots on a multi-piece rod isn't absolutely necessary, but it's just one more added feature you can add to a custom rod that delivers at a rate that is greater than the cost and time to do it.

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Phil: After 60 years of experimentation I find joining rod sections from top to bottom far easier than from bottom to top. I have yet to meet an angler who actually tried the top-to-bottom sequence who disagrees. Sorta like doubling your fly line and threading the bend through the guide train is easier than threading the tippet through first.

Phil: After 60 years of experimentation I find joining rod sections from top to bottom far easier than from bottom to top. I have yet to meet an angler who actually tried the top-to-bottom sequence who disagrees. Sorta like doubling your fly line and threading the bend through the guide train is easier than threading the tippet through first.

Well Phil, I also have been fly fishing for over 60 years and having done it both ways, I prefer assembling from bottom up, and use the same method Tom mentions above. Don't see the connection with the doubling fly line comment, as it is common practice among experienced fly fishermen.