I went to a sports show today and had a talk with a builder who was building a rod for people to see how its done. I asked how he liked the alconite guides and he said he found them to groove pretty easy and liked hardloy better because they hold up better and don't groove as easy. I've built with both and have used hardloy in fishing alot no problem with grooveing. But all the adds say alconites are a harder material. Any merit in this builders opinion.ED....

Alconites are supposed to be the better guide rig

I would wonder what else he's wrong about!!! Hardaloy are good, Alconite, Zirconia, etc are better

Mike

You can't groove an alconite ring anymore than you can a hardloy. The guy was full of it. Alconite is harder than the Hardloy.

I thought as much . Just wanted to read it here. Thanks ED...

He most likely had one bad experience with them and assumed...

Putter
Williston, ND

Got to tell this guy about this board -- he needs an education. The zerconia rings are almost as good as the SIC rings

Wonder if the guy's he builds for are using exclusively braid, it can wear guides.

Bill in WV

Just my opinion but I have no clue why they even make the hardloys anymore. Alconite ring + J-Frame + new concept = no need for hardloys


go to the education section and click ring types. It says it all ; Strength - 1.8 times harder than Hardloy
[www.fujitackle.com.au]

I prefer the Alconites/Zirconiums, etc. but the last place I would look for unbiased opinion would be at Fuji's web site. There is nothing wrong with hardaloy, hialoy, etc. They are good guides and builders probably use more of them than any other guide. You certainly don't have to use Alconites to use the Concept system. Actually, the Fuji Concept system is pretty off base and not very efficient.

Alconites are harder than Hardaloys but Hardaloys are more than adequate for even braided lines

Mike

Mike, your 100% right about the refrence to the Fuji web site but I was mainly trying to state it is hard to beat the J-frame in the Alconite. The hardness I wouldn't have a clue except for what I read on here and other places. I do not use braided line so I can not comment from personal expierence on the hardness which is what Ed originally asked about.

Mike

Mike Barkley
What do you mean by the concept system is off base?? You think the cone of flight is just as good???

Isn't it funny how wrong people can be, even if they are a "professional". These guys usually know how to build a good rod, but are stuck in the shop too long nad have no clue about new technology except that it all @#$%&. And to make it better, they refuse to learn anything or listen to anyone because they've been doing it since before you were born, lol. Next time play dumb and continue to ask him questions just to see how much bad advice he gives, lol. Better yet, find one of his rods, and start asking him all sort of why - why is the epoxy 3/4 of teh way up teh guide foot? Where are the grips so thick. Why is there a puddle of epoxy on teh reel sea threads or seeping out the butt cap - why arent' teh guides straight, lol.

I've also made teh switch to ALco's. No need for Hardaloy's - forget the ring material, as it's just fine for all but hard running fish - the frame on teh Alco's has a beter grade of steel, and tehy are noticeably lighter. They are also sexy looking.

I'm wating to here feedback on the new American Tackle Titans??
Wonder how hard the ring is compared to others

I have been running braided line over hardloy for several years and there is no problems with grooving. As a matter of fact, I have a rod that is fished hard and is over 8 years old. It has Fuji Hardloy guides on it. No problems here.

David Banaka

Bill,

I was referring to the Concept system on the Fuji site. It's not at all like the Concept system most of us use. Check out their recommended guides/spacing! Use a chart and doesn't take in acoount, the reel or anything.

I always us the New Guide Concept system, never the Fuji Concept guide system

Mike

I understand that. I just thought you found some thing better???

Billy ---
Gee you were on a tear there weren't you? One of the things I like most about having new people participate in rod building is that they will challenge the duffers... Make people who have been "doin' this since dirt was created'" actually stop and think about why something is done the way it is. Experimentation is the life-blood of any growing craft. Learning the new is how the technology advances. I haven't seen any information yet on the Titan rings - other than the composition is proprietary and the trade name (Nanolite) is patented - however I do know that American Tackle put in some hard "build to" requirements to the manufacturer so they should be very good guides.....

Always looking for something better, Ken. It just costs too much money to keep experimenting?? LOL
Like those Vintage autos you got in your yard, what would be a nice custom color for one? LOL
Those Titans look like they are of a concept design, got to be the Cats Meow