A rod guide fixedly molded around the shank of a sucker rod string with the
rod guide including a radially inner non-erodible zone and a radially
outer erodible zone. The non-erodible zone includes a radially inner
substantially sleeve-shaped portion having an inner cylindrical surface
for gripping engagement with the rod. A plurality of flow through channels
are spaced outward of the substantially sleeve-shaped portion. Each flow
through channel extends axially along the rod guide and has a maximum
circumferential width greater than any gap in the radially outer surface
of the erodible zone circumferentially aligned with and radially outward
of the respective flow through channel. The radially outer surface of the
erodible zone may have a cylindrical outer configuration, such that a
radially outward substantially sleeve-shaped portion is provided for
engagement with the tubing. The upper and lower surfaces of the rod guide
may each be inclined such that the radially outer surface of the rod guide
extends longitudinally in excess of the inner cylindrical surface of the
sleeve-shaped portion and in engagement with the rod. A guided sucker rod
includes an elongate rod having threaded end connectors for mating
engagement with an adjoining sucker rod and one or more rod guides fixedly
molded thereon. According to the method of the invention, left-side and
right-side molds are created each including one or more elongate cavity
creating member supported in a cantilevered fashion from a supporting end
block. A plastic material is injected into the mold cavity, and the
supporting end block is then moved longitudinally along the axis of the
rod to remove the one or more channel performing members from the molded
rod guide.