I'm going to build up a Dan Craft FT863-4

does anyone know the Gudebrod thread number/color that most closely matches the satin gray color of this blank?

an identical match would be perfect. I'd like to mount fuji TLSG Titanium single foot guides on this little 3wt and wonder what the smallest mm size i should use for the running guides.

it appears, before a static guide test that the standard no. of guides for this length blank would be

8’6” 4pc

4.5”, 9.25”, 14.5”, 20”, 26.25”, 33.5”, 42”, 51.25”, 61.5”, 73.5”

ten guides not counting the tiptop.

The TLSG Guides are spendy but they're slick as ice on my 6wt rainshadow - making it a joy to cast - therefore i think they're worth the investment on this little fast action FT blank.

thanks for any input.

marc

Marc--720 Medium Grey is the closest I've found so far, though I haven't spent an awful lot of time on it yet! Smallest guide size would be the 5.5 in TSG, I would think. BTW--I've been building my FT's with less guides than the "standard"...I find 4 on the top section is all I want or it's a little overweighted up there. But do a static deflection then plenty of test casting while "tweaking" and I'm sure you'll find the perfect match to this AWESOME blank!

All the best!

Thank you John,

four on the top it is.

i look forward to doing business with rockymountainrodbuilding

marc

Take a look at the American Tackle Titans. Cheaper then the Fuji's.
Also let the blank tell you where the guides go, no two blanks flex the same.
Artical in the Library and Faq's page

I also wonder if the Single Foot Wire guides are not lighter then the Titanium? There is a lot of colors on the Pac Bay ones Just my 1 1/2 cents

Thanks all,

i'll look at the Titans and this time i'll preform a static guide test to determine the best placement.

i've seen the single foot wire guides and actually perfer them, yet i doubt that they can equal the sic ring inserts for slickness which i assume makes a big difference when casting old worn and nicked lines.

marc

Very nice blank, got one from Dan last year.

I know that the typical pattern is find thread that disappears on fly rods, and certainly looks nice. I took a slightly different approach and used a Blue Dun (I think #0272) with single strand of pearl metalic. Then went with the grey for the ferrule wraps. In the sunlight, the wraps are not totally gone, the ferrule wraps are also there --- but it all matched up nicely with an REC real seat with the Titanium finish (which has bluish tint), and a burl cork grip. The pearl metallic seems to pick up some of colors around it when in the sunlight - and Dan's labelling is white. The guides are from Dan as well.

I like it.

Have fun - great blank.

zach

A medium blue thread with no CP. A guide on every ferrule, static distribution for the rest.