Bagues XHW

Our take on XHW winding checks

A winding check shows up immediately on a build, and the XHW does the job for a little over three euros. Their strength is the 0.5 mm step between sizes: you find the reference that matches the real diameter of your blank, instead of making up the gap with thread. The eleven anodised colours then let you match the finish to the reel seat and the wrapping thread.

23 sizes from 7 to 18 mm, 11 anodised colours

• Anodised aluminium winding check, Rodbuilders' Republic range
• 23 inside diameters, from 7 mm to 18 mm, in 0.5 mm steps
• Outside diameter from 8.3 mm to 22.85 mm depending on the reference, full detail in the sizing guide
• Weight around 0.5 g, no impact on rod balance
• 11 colours: Bronze, Jungle Green, Deep Sea, Matt Black, Titanium Chrome, Gloss Black, Purple, Silver, Gold, Red, Cobalt Blue
• Anodised finish, corrosion resistance in freshwater and saltwater alike
• Uses: grip to blank junction, front and back of a reel seat, separation between two handle materials

Fitting a winding check cleanly

Sizing to the half millimetre

Measure the blank with callipers at the exact spot where the check will sit, then take the next reference up. A blank measured at 11.7 mm calls for an XHW12, not an XHW11.5 which will refuse to slide on. The 0.5 mm step keeps the remaining gap down to a few tenths, easily taken up by one or two layers of thread slipped under the check. The sizing guide lists the inside and outside diameter for every reference, useful when you want the check to sit flush with the face of an EVA or cork grip you have already turned.

Where to place it on the build

A winding check goes wherever two components meet: at the top of the rear grip, on either side of a reel seat, or at the front of the fore grip. It does not need glue: pressed against the grip, it is held by the wrap that butts up against it, then by the epoxy finish coat. It is also the classic fix for a slightly over-reamed grip, since the check hides the offset and the repair no longer shows. Remember to slide it onto the blank before gluing the handle.

On looks, two approaches work: a colour that echoes the reel seat for a discreet build, or a contrasting check answering a wrapping thread in the same shade. Titanium Chrome and Matt Black suit most blanks, while Deep Sea, Jungle Green and Cobalt Blue work better as an occasional accent.