Some good tips there Neil. The problem I face is that a small crack in a guide simply destroys 12lb BS nylon. It had never occurred to me just how fine the ceramic centers of the guides on the early Veritas were, it would not take much of a knock to crack or chip one ... and I have discovered I have two of them cracked. I will get a quote on new guides (Fuji are usually expensive) but it may be cheaper to simply buy another rod, do the repair myself and keep the Veritas as a spare.