I'm going to be building an 9' 8wt rod on a Dan Craft FT blank, intended use mostly saltwater. I've decided on a Struble reel seat with attached figting butt and a full wells cork grip.

I think i've settled (after much contemplating!) on Fuji single foot Titanium SiC ceramics, but i'm not sure what sizes i'll require. I was thinking along the lines of 2 x strippers #16 and #12 followed by a couple of #8's and #7's the rest of the way to the tip. Does this sound OK to you guys or should i do things differently?

Also what colour wraps do you recommend on one of these blanks. I believe they are gray.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks

that sounds like appropriate guide choices, assuming that you won't be using multi-tip systems (if you will, #8's to the tip might not be a bad idea).

I have the same setup on my FT #6, except with alconites. Shoots line wonderfully. I wrapped with black thread and gold trim. I think it's very subtle but also sharp. I really like the look. You might also consider a dark metallic thread (gunmetal or something) with lighter trim bands if you like the sparkle thing...

I just fininshed redoing a Gloomis GLX 11'6" 8/9wt and followed Tom Kirkman's suggestion for using high frame double foot guides for the stripping guides. I'm a big fan of the Forecast sf titanium guides now, so I used size 16 & 12 double foot high frames, a 10, 2-8's, and 7-7's the rest of the way with a 7 tip top. Since I couldn't get anything larger than a 7 ring in 4.5 tip top, I didn't see any reason for anything larger than 7's on the upper section. I have an extra 12 high frame that I may add later as a tamer but I'll see how this setup works for now.

Those high frame double foot guides look awesome as strippers!