Bent Guide

[masterbass]

I always take care of my rods, but I noticed yesterday that one of my guides is bent like someone stepped on it.  I bent it back with my fingers and fished with it and it was fine, but the one foot is crimped up.  It's one of my favorite omens.  I wish it was the tip because it's an easy fix, but I don't how to do wraps and stuff.  The issue seems totally aesthetic.  I don't know of any rod builders in the area.  What would you do?

[Tywithay]

It has titanium guides frames, so I'd call 13 and ask if they can send a replacement, then have someone fix it for you. Titanium doesn't bend, so it will snap if pushed too far. It's likely cheap scrapyard titanium with a lot of other metals to water it down, so it may have more give than pure titanium, but I wouldn't push it too far.

[papajoe222]

Is the  guide's foot a single or double?  The reason I ask is that a double footed guide has more metal giving the ring more support.  Bending will fatigue the metal to a breaking point if done repeatedly, more metal will postpone that. If the guide was only bent twice (once when damaged and once when you straightened it out), and you're talking a casting rod with double footed guides, I wouldn't concern myself as long as the eye matches up with the rest of the guides.  If it's a spinning rod, I likely would get it replaced as there is much more pressure pulling away from the blank rather than that of a casting guide that's pushing down on it.  Plus, the chances are it's a single foot guide. If it's a two piece rod, I'd contact one of the sites sponsors. Shipping and repair costs should be minimal and your mind will be at ease that the job was done right.

[Capt.Bob]

It's double footed.  It seems to be functional, but it just bothers me to see it crimped like that.  I called *** and they are sending a me guide.  I'll probably use it and then get it fixed over the winter. 

 

How difficult is it to wrap a guide yourself?

Go to your local bait shop, most know builders in the area, if you don't have any good shops close to you, check with BPS, Gander Mnt., Cabelas, or if you have to ship it, DVT can fix you up, the bad thing about shipping it is it's less than $8.00 to replace it from most builders, specially since you have the new guide.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Ya, shipping is often a deal breaker when it come to rod repairs. Wrapping a guide isn't hard per say, but if this is an aesthetic repair leave it to a pro. Nice tight wraps and clean epoxy finishing takes some practice. 

[masterbass]

Ya, shipping is often a deal breaker when it come to rod repairs. Wrapping a guide isn't hard per say, but if this is an aesthetic repair leave it to a pro. Nice tight wraps and clean epoxy finishing takes some practice. 

How much should it cost to wrap a guide that I already have?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A single color double foot wrap and finish  should be <$10