Build Better Rods Faster With Our Guide Spacing Calculator

Step 1

Browse the specification chart. Use overlap and align the line way across your board or the bottom to represent max length or width. Use the entry measurement format sheet EXACTLY as seen including all marked margins, and one reel at a time upside down. Do not worry about looking for reverse scale.

Step 2

Lay the reel flat, top side down on the full bottom, and while you gently pull the guides, gently press to align the midpoint. This is the most important part: the line should be touching the spool cut all along the sides and the width to 1/8″ to the paper, while checking the bottom edge of the side. Congratulations, you have just captured one edge of the spool while inside the flat side.

Step 3

Now go back to edge of max. You can actually just replot this measurement since drop will always have a technical relationship to showcase for any project stage.

Step 4

Re-align the max and edge on the spool side you saw in step 2, you can similarly just replot this measurement since drop will always have a technical relationship to distance for any preferred design angle.

Step 5

Position the reel precisely so the spool angle is done in step 2 and project the flat part so that reel mark or spool grid mark.

Step 6

At the point where the projected spool axle line intersects with the “rear of reel” mark, use a square or 90° triangle to draw a line (A) perpendicular to the rod blank line. Do the same (B) for the spool tip mark.

Using calipers, measure the length of Lines A, B, & C. A & B are measured from the intersecting point on the spool axle line to the top edge of the rod blank line.