When to Acid/Spiral Wrap

[HUNTER II]

I am getting very curious about this acid wrapping technique that I have been reading about - are there any rules of thumb as to which applications it's best suited for? - what are the upsides of using this technique - what are the downsides? -I have two Calstar Blanks on order (a 660xh & 660xxh), both of which I intend to use for trolling rods - what do you think, should I put them on acid?

[paul708]

best for conventional reels..any weight..i would do acid with all but bunkerspoon rods, with the BS rods you want the rod to 'pulse" and shake..if you were to acid wrap them they would loose some of the shake a conventional wrap put into it..go for it you will like it for those blanks, up to 80# line no problem

[Ragman]

One of the only downsides that I've seen is when McGolfer is fishing with his on a party boat.

The crew often tries to straighten his two piece rod so the guides all line up!

[gimmedeal]

The main advantage (only?) of acid wrapping a rod is that it does away with the rod twisting/torquing as the line, under load, tries to straighten out. The higher the guides are above the rod, the more twisting force is created. The tall Aftco WO's are a good example and a lot of times you'll see your guides, especially towards the tip, twisting and turning sideways. If you don't have to fight the twisting, the fight becomes easier. Also the twisiting puts additional, torsional, stresses on the rod blank and guides that are really designed to stretch on one side and compress on the other. I'm not an expert, but acid/spiral wrap actually seems to be the most correct way to put guides on a rod. The line is underneath the rod where it should have been all along.
The only disadvantage I've heard of is that some headboat fishermen feel that the line underneath the rod is more vulnerable to getting cut when fsihermen are doing the Tuna shuffle.

Fred

[jureal]

The only disadvantage I've heard of is that some headboat fishermen feel that the line underneath the rod is more vulnerable to getting cut when fsihermen are doing the Tuna shuffle.

Not sure how this is a disadvantage. Are spinning rods more susceptible to cutting too?

My heaviest acid rod is a Calstar 655xxh built with USG guides and biggest tuna on it so far is 186# caught on the Royal Star out of San Diego.

With the transition from top to bottom occurring past the stripper guide, I don't see how or what would be cutting the line.

[paul708]

Originally Posted by gimmedeal

The only disadvantage I've heard of is that some headboat fishermen feel that the line underneath the rod is more vulnerable to getting cut when fsihermen are doing the Tuna shuffle.

Fred

do you remember that from a few years ago ..wow i almost forgot about that ..but being a member of the "acid roller gang" it seems like yesterday

[gimmedeal]

I don't think it's a disadvatage Jureal, that's the only one I've heard that comes to mind. My next roller rod is gonna be a Super Seeker with acid rollers.

Fred

[jureal]

I've tried the acid rollers and even have one that I am now ready to take apart and rebuild. I have not had good luck with the setup. Fishwisher has given me some input on using the higher framed Aftco big foot guides for the stripper guide on a acid roller rod that seems to make more sense to me to help resolve the problem of the line falling off the rollers especially when the line is coming off the right side of a wide reel. I have a set of unused AA neptune guides for sale if you want them cheap. I will also be pulling off the set on my acid roller rod as soon as I find the time. I really like the acid concept but give me a set of USG's instead of the rollers for my heavy tuna rod.

[Ragman]

Hey Mel - Do you have a quick link to the USG guides so that I can read more about them?

Thanks!

[jureal]

Yes, but they are not cheap.

Anglers Workshop - Fuji USG Gunsmoke SiC Boat Guides