have an older rod that needs some help
Rod is a Berkley Hardrock series HS94-8'-6'' lure 1/2 to 2 1/2 line 12-30 . A couple of the guides seem to have separated so am going to replace the guide train. Guides are the same as Pac Bay double foot S guides.
rod is used like a surf rod to fish walleyes from a river bank, has also landed sturgeons in the 50 inch range so it gets a lot of abuse and has a few marks on the blank that I would like to repair now that I'm into working on it. was thinking of using testors to just touch it up a bit and was wondering if it would work or what would.
Also would like to know if I underwraped the guides if it would stiffen it up a bit for casting or just ruin the original action.
Last but most this is my wife's favorite rod
thanks, Robert

Robert

Under wraps, except for the heavier boat and rods with very large guides or roller guides, are primarily aesthetic additions. Any "stiffening" resulting from under wraps will be marginal. And under wraps do add a wee bit of cushion / separation between guide feet and the blank for the heavier guides. The downside to under wraps is the additional weight, especially on the upper third of the rod, where more weight is usually not desirable. Bottom line: under wraps are attractive, but don't expect under wraps to stiffen the blank.

Lots of builders on this site paint / refinish blanks, and, hopefully several will respond to your post with benefit of more experience.

Adding under wraps will soften the rod, not stiffen it.

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If you going to replace the guide train then why not do a full restoration and scuff the rod to the handle and repaint the entire rod then re wrap the new guides and make it look like new and if the handle is dirty just use some dish soap and a soft brush to clean it up back to almost new condition.
would be a good thing to keep the wife happy as she likes to fish!

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