Hey guys

I am looking into getting a custom Fronteir mx tied up very nicely or a loomis IMX for steelhead fishing. I have decided that the theme for the wraps is going to be black and blue and this where I come to a road block.

The plan is to use black wraps with blue accents, with a Ti colour SIC guide... until I thought about Getting the guides I have seen that have a Ti colour frame with the blue insert.

I was wondering your opinions and if anyone maybe has a picture with a blue insert in a guide on a grey/black blank so I can try to picture if I should go for that or just a plain Ti SIC guide.

also is there a company that makes SIC guides where the insert is blue?

Nate

Thanks alot for any help

Hi Nate,
Your email address is hidden so I posted a photo on the photo section of Blue Zirconium ring guide with a chrome frame.

Hope this helps.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Thanks alot. By the way is that an SIC guide or what type? thanks

Nate

keep it coming please, all opinions are more than appreciated



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2006 04:54PM by Nathan Smith.

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Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Here is another picture of a Forecast Ti frame with a blue insert. [www.rodbuilding.org]

Bob

Is there a really big difference between Ti inserts and SIC?

Nate

that pic is perfect thanks alot

I think the guide is an Amtak Zirconium not SiC

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

HERESY WARNING: SIC is the smoothest, most durable material out there for guide inserts and their relative cost reflects that. (here comes the 'heresy') I doubt that 90+% of the fishermen out there can tell the difference between an SIC guide and the American Tackle, Batson, PacBay, Zirconium or TiG guides when fishing with them or in terms of "durability". The "new" composition guides are tough enough to handle any line you're likely to run through them for many years before any 'wear' shows up.

Nathan,
The black frame/blue ring guides look nice on a steelhead rod also.

Their catalogs show the pictures fine, too. You might try getting some of these catalogs for your current project and for future ones, too. Their pics are very professional and show the detail you're looking for.

Putter
Williston, ND

Hey guys

The only reason I ask about the quality difference in the two types of guides if that I currently have Ti Halogen (zicroniam I beleive) coloured inserts on my custom rainshadow. Now I have had the rod for 4 years almost now and fish it alot because im only 15 and afterschool = fishing time usually (4 times a week atleast). I have noticed some 'wear ion the guides mainly the colour is no longer as sharp and eye catching as it once was. Don’t get me wring the rod is great but it is a bit heavy as I think this was tied on the older rainshadow blanks which I believe were heavier. I just don’t want so much work to be put into this rod to have the guides finish dull out and if it will do that in a few years id sooner go with the SiC guides from pac bay.

Nate

really appreciate all of the opinions

Nathan -
You're right that the pretty finish on the guides' rings will "dull out" - more so and quicker if you fish salt or brackish water (and neglect to rinse off the rod in clear fresh water). Early, early on American Tackle had problems with the thickness/quality of the finish on the guide frames as well - but I think that is solved and now "history". PacBay used to have a problem with their gold framed guide - the guide still looked gold but over time looked considerably "duller" than the Fuji brand frames. I don't know if that is still the case or not - I just haven't had a call for gold-framed guides so I haven't had a need to order more from PacBay, Fuji or anyone else. SIC is a grey / black colored insert that has no pretty finish on top of it so it will always stay the same color. Neither the SIC nor the Zirconium rings will "wear out" (in my lifetime - but I'm not as young as you are). Here's what I can say about one configuration. I made up a set of trolling rods using American Tackle black finish over brass with a gold inner ring that have been used for the last 4 years on the Chesapeake Bay virtually every day 8+ hours / day from April through December pulling heavy braided trolling lines (80lb line). The most "damage" to the original black frame/gold inner ring guides is that the gold is duller (not as shiny) - and it's time for me to touch up the wraps because they're dulled from the effects of saltwater, sun and flexing.

I've got a lot of the Forecast blue and gold ring guides on the water and they seem to hold up just fine. Finished a repair on a Hot Shot blank with the gold rings thats almost two years old, used about 100 days a year on rivers and the guides looked bright.