So I'm trying to get the spacing of the guides on an unlimited blank. Gator 6' unlimited and I'm having trouble flexing it. Has anyone done one of these big rods before, and can offer some advice on getting it to flex enough to place the guides? I had it attached to a table with a 5 gal bucket and was filling the bucket to get it to flex and broke the table...

My first spiral rod too. Do I need to flex it down to the butt guide like a normal size rod? Thanks everyone any and all help is much appreciated!

Jon,
You can sink a pipe in a hole in the ground. Tamp the pipe well.

Then, drop the blank in the pipe and hook a winch onto the end of the blank and crank it down at tight as you wish.

Obviously, take a dozen wraps around the blank at the butt and the tip of the blank to protect each end from damage.

Good luck

On a blank of this power and length you really don't need to go to all the trouble deeply flexing it. If you know where the butt guide is going to be, set it and then use roughly 4 more guides out to the tip spaced progressively by eye. You'll find that this many total guides (5 plus tiptop) on that length and type blank will work out pretty well unless you really do something odd.

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Thanks guys, it worked out great. You were also spot on Tom, it looks good with 5 guides plus tip. You guys are great!