for guide spacing, check out
rod building tips and tricks
the charts at the bottom of the page should give you a starting point.
it will have the size/spacing for the length rod you are using to use new concept guides. Fuji Alconites are my favorite but there are many options.
on a 7'0" rod i use the above spacing with the following alconite guides.
blnag 12j
blnag 10j
blnag 8j
blag 7J
blag 6j
blag 6j
blag 6j
blag 6j
Tip: bfat 6-x
To do a bumper spiral wrap, get a blnag 7j (double foot), put it on the blank halfway between the 12 & 10 guides or such that line from the reel isn't hitting the blank, and set it at 90 degrees. Your sz 12 is at 0 degrees (top of rod) and your sz 10 and all the rest are at 180*.
There are several other methods to spiral wrap (acid wrap for instance), this is the simplest and works great... imho.
as for finding a piece of blank.. check a few tackleshops in your area that might do rod repairs... i'm sure they have some broken sticks laying around.
