hey guys another question about my up and coming rod.

i was given a fuji cataloge and have been looking through that and have seen the guides i would like to use on my new soft plastics rod that i am currently researching.

i would like to use TATSG guides for stripper and transition and then BLAG running guides.

is this alright??? i was thinking TATSG 25,16,10 then BLAG running 6 with a BLAG used as a tip

i was told that the TATSG are extremely expensive and i cannot find if te are available in alconite sorry if its a dumb question but are they??? and if they are not would it look weird with Sic rings in teh stripper and transition and then alconites in teh running guides?? or i could just fork out money and buy TLSG running guides.

ill be using the rod for soft plastics here in AUS the blank will probably be a samurai S002X or GUSA B65LXF or B70LXF. In your opinion do you think this guide setup would be a good way to go with these blanks?

i will be planning on running 2-10lb braid of some sort NOT fireline. my guess at the moment is it wil be matched to either a daiwa SOL 2000 or TD Advantage.

if it helps it will have a custom turned wooden handle with a FUJI IPS split grip handle.

sorry for another question but it seems like a waste not to ask
thanks AGAIN
Tom S

My opinion ... use Alconites throughout. You are planning to put a wooden handle on it, so weight is out the window AND Alconite is so incredibly close to Ti SiC anyways. PLUS Alconite ceramic rings are lighter than SiC ceramic rings, so the ring weight difference tends to offset a lot of the frame weight difference. Save yourself the $$$ and just get the Chrome Alconite guides, they will look sharp with everything else you are describing.

On another note, the Sol is really not worth the 50% additional $$$ over the TD Advantage. The TDA has the same basic design, including drag ... so why spend the money.

Should you decide to go Ti SiC (TATSG) anyway ... go all the way and get TLSG running guides to match. The Titanium frames and Chrome or Black Alconites would NOT look attractive together IMO.

yeah i am thinking they would not look nice together.

the wood i am using is Huon Pine i am not sure of the weight but i dont think its overly heavy another option is i turn my own custom cork grips.

yeah theTD advantage has 1 less bearing for 50 dollars more...

i asked the question because i liked the look of the TATSG but if its not right its not right so i might just go alconites or if i can save money go TiSic all the way through but thats a lot of $$$$

thanks a heap Jim Much appreciated, sorry for my stupid questions this is my first day...HAHAHA

Regards
Tom S



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2008 10:11PM by Tom Kirkman.

Cork is definitely MUCH lighter than any wood. Take a look at the Fuji Soft Touch reel seat ... it looks smashing IMO with Chrome Alconite guides. It would give a touch of class to your work without added weight or too much additional expense.

BTW, no question is stupid BEFORE the epoxy gets applied, after that ...

its ridiculously stupid :D haha

i just had a look at the soft touch reel seat looks nice but i am keen on the IPS handle setup but with a split rear grip maybe the IPSD it looks a bit more classy. sorry if i misunderstood and that is actually the one you were talking about.

yeah im still tossing up between the wood or cork. i am leaning towards maybe combining the two by turning custom cork in a dark color and bevasue houn pine is so light colored trimming each grip with maybe a quarter inch strip of wood. I dont know just another idea to think about

thanks again Jim

Regards
Tom S

just lookign at cork on mudhole found the burnt cork rings with light and dark mix and really like the look of them maybe turn a grip out of that then insert slithers of Houn Pine maybe 1 8th inch width on random angles.

i remember seeing a pic of this done but with cork insted of wood looked really cool and becaus the Pine is light colored it COULD look really nice with the light mix burnt cork

Do yourself a favor and look at the cork at Angler's Workshop ... a sponsor on the left. They have some of the nicest cork available - including some exotics that are super nice. Getting good cork rings is a real challenge nowadays. Until vendors adopt a uniform grading scale, it is best to work from source referrals and not just buy from whomever.

thanks jim will do.

Good tip too

any opinions on the guide setup ie sizes numbers etc etc styles anything will help balnks etc


regards
Tom S



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2008 09:59PM by Tom Slater.

If you will perform the New Guide System per the library article here, your reel and blank will tell you what guide sizes you need to use. You may have to order a couple extra sizes as you won't know until you get them out and start setting things up which ones will provide the straight line path, but the cost of a couple extra Alconite guides is next to nothing, particularly against having a rod that performs so very well.

...........

thanks tom i just read over the primer again and have a few questions.

how many is too many transition guides?

and how does the reel spool diameter x 27 come into the NGC sorry not a rodmaker subscriber but hopefully will be soon

Tom, I mostly use wood/acrylic/exotic burl cork or combinations of them. IMO, nothing looks worse than the cork that is available today. When I buy something, I expect to use ALL of it and with the burl corks, every piece is the same and usable (not to mention cheaper) As for the weight, if you're concerned about that, you can bore the wood out oversize and insert Flexcoat arbors and greatly reduce the weight. The rod that I build are mostly split grip/no or tiny foregrip which more than compensates for the extra wgt and makes it easy to balance

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!!

Mike!

thanks for the tip on boring out the wood i didnt think of that.

thanks for the tip mike ill be sure to try it

I use the 2000 series Daiwas and the 2500 series Shimanos quite often. Both spools are within mere fractions of 45mm o.d. Once I multiply times 27, mark my choke point, then figure out my guide sizes from there, I almost always end up using 25, 16, 10, then sz. 6 running guides & top. By all means, you should do the measurements yourself, as the reel seat diameter, individual spool size, and blank diameter will come into play. However, if you're really tight on cash, then you could likely buy 25, 16, 10, etc., and come really, really close. (Might buy a 12 and an 8 just in case.)

For what it's worth, Alconites are really good guides. But, I love those TATSG guides--nothing looks cooler. Also, that B65LXF is a real winner.

If it were my rod, I likely wouldn't worry too much about the wood grip. It will add weight, but the weight will all be right in/near your hand, so there will be some added weight, but probably not enough to notice. It is absolutely true that added weight does make a difference, but when it's a light spinning rod to begin with, AND the wood is right there in your hand, AND it's pine (not something really heavy like cocobolo), I can't imagine there being much of a difference. If the wood is really amazing, just use it.

thanks andrew really appreciate it.

yeha tha TATSG do look awesome its just a matter of do i have the money.

went on mudhole and it worked out to cost me about $178 australian plus postage which i have no clue about costs.

so the TATSG are a option if i buy from mudhole i think.