In defense of custom builders it doesn't matter so much how many guides you're doing. The process is tedious and time consuming. You have to prep the blank, removing old guide and whatever was used to seal it. You have to get your wrapping equipment set up and wrap the new guide (that's the easy part). Then you have to get your turning equipment setup. Mix up the flexcoat which is costly and not easy to mix enough for just one guide so there will be waste. Use a fine bristle brush to apply the flexcoat that usually gets tossed after one use and aint cheap. Apply the flexcoat and start the turning process (takes about 8 hours to cure). Remove the rod from the turner clean up the mess and put the equipment back up. I've built many rods over the years and I wouldn't get my equipment out for $25 (not meant to be a slam, just the truth).
One thing you'll learn fast about custom building is that you aren't going to save money doing it. You'll eventually build a much, much, better product than you can buy commercially, but save money you won't... There are people out there who are making a living turning rods so they have a system that helps keep the prices down. When you find one that sells a high end blanks built right for a price you can afford you better hang on to his info!!
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