What Guides For Rod Builds

[nwmike]

I have 2 nfc blanks that I want to build into custom rods.both are 7foot 3inch rods one medium heavy and the other is a heavy.I have picked out all the components except guides for the builds.I will have to strip the blanks first because they are built rods that I got through a sponsor before they quit making rods.I am taking a rod building class as a hobby. the rods have both had guide failure as far as inserts popping out and cracking on both rods.I want to switch the guides on the rods from micros to standard guides.I am a fan of alconites but wanted to hear from guys with building experience what they recommend.

[S Hovanec]

IMO, Alconites are the best bang for the buck.  With that being said, on all of my personal high-end builds, I use Fuji TiSiC's.  If you want to save a little money, the K-Frames are available in Ti/Alconite.  I was contemplating using them on my next two spinning rods, but i ended up ordering the SiC's.  It was only going to be about a $25 savings per rod.

[Tony Monticelli]

depends... do you need better than hardloy etc... whats on sale.. etc.. if i can get a deal on fancy guides i get em but if i have to pay the price for them then no thanks lol. i fine with hardloy, they never let me down yet..

[papajoe222]

How much you're willing to spend will be your decision maker.  Two things I'd like to warn you about; removing the existing guides and placement of the new ones.  Using too much heat to break down the epoxy can weaken the blank, so don't be in a big hurry.  If guide failure was a problem on the original, placement may have been the underlying  cause.  Make sure to find the spine first and then either chart the guide placement, or at the very least, load the rod from the tip and mark the underside of the blank at the beginning and end of the bend. If there aren't guides just above those locations the original placement was the problem.

[Crookedneck]

Fuji Alconites are a good choice and American Tackle Halide guides depending on which ones you chose are a very good guide for the money. 

[Jrob78]

I'm a big fan of the Fuji Alconites also.  They are good guides at a reasonable price.  I've also used, and liked, American Tackle Ring Lock Guides with Nanolite rings.  If you want to go titanium and/or Sic, I would personally stick with Fuji.  Since you're going to full size guides and the rods are heavier, shaving every possible ounce isn't quite as critical so stainless frames should be fine.  Also, many builders don't build on the spine anymore, most build on the straightest axis.  If your blank is really straight and you want to build on the spine, by all means do, but it isn't going to make or break the build.

[nwmike]

im going with the alconites thanks for all the great info.