I had ordered a set of Recoil guides from @#$%& at a really good price. Now the plot thickens.
we have discussed in an earlier post size is determined by measuing the inside diameter of the frame and the unit of measure is millimeters. For a Fugi by their table (thanks Cliff) would have about a 20mm I.D. for a #20 guide and so forth.
When I measured the guide I bought off of @#$%& my #20 measured 14mm I.D.
I emailed the seller and he said that the #20 was packaged as #20 in the Rec packaging.
This morning I called Rec Components and asked them to explain. They made some reference to competitors using the I.D. as we all agree upon but Rec doesnt use that as their standard. For example a Rec #20 should measure .549" or 14mm, a #25 will mesure .724" or 18.4mm and #30 is .9005 or 22.98mm (Inside diameter).
What lead to this was the excellent price on @#$%& and my need for a butt guide that was aobut 1/2 the diameter of my spinning reel spool (40mm), making my need for a butt guide of about 20mm. When you look at the price of Rec guides a #20 (too small its a 14mmm id) its listed at 5.27 +5.28 (all Rec guides start at $5.27) and are +/- up to $5.28 or ($10.55) plus $9.00 S/H making one guide over $19.00. I was going to order last night but thought I'd wait. After talking to them this morning I realized I almost ordered what I had already bought twice on @#$%& (there was a set of 8 guides for $18.00 plus s/h I ordered a second set thinking I had made a mistake and needed a few more of the smaller ones anyway. Before this is all done I will have $72.00 invested in guides. AHHHHHHHHHHH. I am not blaming The @#$%& guy and Im not blaming Rec but be aware if you see Rec guides they may not be what you think they are if you are referencing the Fugi Tables. Im trying to get a chart from Rec that discribes what is what.

I don't think that a Fuji 20 would have a 20mm ID as the guide is measured from the inside of the FRAME and not the ceramic insert. Due to different ceramic insert thicknesses, the ID of rings on a #20 guide can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

A perfect reason to buy your supplies from a real component supplier (vendors on the left) as they will be glad to take the time to discuss what you need, answer any questions that you might have and help make sure that you get what you need!
Buying on @#$%& can often get you a "pig in a poke"! Penny wise/pound foolish.

Mike

That's one reason I bought a set of everything recoil and put them in my boxes for references only. I just size by height, etc. depending on the rod and now order what I need with no mistakes, and no extras needed except for tip tops if the blank and guides are ordered together. I've done that with other style guides also. Anyone measured the fly guides to see if they are really the right sizes in reference to other snakes or singlefoots?
May have to do that when I get home.

Spencer, Great idea, Thanks!!!!

I wouldn't think anyone would want to reference the Fuji tables when trying to determine sizes for REC guides.

Ceramic guides are generally measured from outside to outside of the ceramic ring. Non-ceramic guides are measured outside to outside of the metal ring/frame.

.........

Rec guides are sized inside.
Fugi guides are sized outside the insert and inside the insert and the sizes vary in Fgi 2-3mm inside diameter of the insert..
A #20 Rec is 14mm inside dia. (no insert)
A #20 Fugi Frame will be about 18mm outside the insert but inside diameter of the insert (for LL and L) is 13.7-13.9 very close to Rec.
I was thinking when a #20 guide was specified it would be 20mm.
The reason all this focus on "#20 guide and 20mm dia" is because I was trying to determine what size butt guide to use. My spinning reel spool is 40mm so from looking in the search archives I saw that the butt guide should be about 1/2 the spool dia. hence a 40mm spool would dictate about (key word is about) a 20mm guide which would not be a #20 guide:
Rec #25 guide is 18.4mm "hole" or inside diameter, a little under 20mm
Rec #30 is 23mm "hole or inside diameter, a little over 20mm
Fugi has 5-6 classes U, LL,L,H,F larger to smaller with a range of 2-3mm very similiar insert ID and Rec coil ID. When choosing a rec guide a reference to the fugi guide would be o.k. I havent seen a rec chart but have ask them for one .
Lesson learned: Guide # does not indicate hole "Bore" size.
Is the reference to butt guide at 1/2 spool size mean the guides bore size should be 1/2 spool dia?
Spencer did I understand you to say you have one of each of the rec guides ? when you have some time on your hands would you measure their i.d. (spinning guides?)

Tom,

Don't drive yourself nuts with this!!! Most use a guide number about half the size of the spool,(40 mm spool - #20 guide) and some don't!! The important thing is how it looks on layout and static test. If it works, go for it! As someone once said "It ain't Rocket Science, it's Rod Building"



Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!