The only guide frames currently available which are immune to corrosion in a salt water environment are solid (not plated) titanium. Have there been any attempts to produce polymer or glass-reinforced guide frames? Such guides would never corrode and would likely be lighter than any metal frame guide.

I have ONE set of stiff nylon guides with ceramic rings. I have NO idea where I got them. NO idea who produced them. And can't believe I only have ONE set. I've had them for something like 15 years.

Phil,
You are quite correct.
I believe the problem is with manufacture and tooling costs.
Stamping and forming presses run very quickly with outputs of hundrerds of parts per minute from a single die. Rolled metals are also produced very quickly to keep cost per pound down. Molding machines can only approach these outputs if cavity numbers are very high as machine cycle rates are low. Multiple cavities add more initial tooling costs.
The guide set Ken has is quite likely from a company that was unable to compete and no longer exists.
The concept is valid but costs are prohibitive. Guide prices would likely increase by a factor of 8 or more and when competing against a 50 cent guide there is little room for profit.
How much are you willing to pay for the performance you desire ??
Possibly there is enough market to drive such a program again.

Eugene Moore

Ken, Any chance you can put up a picture of those guides? The only guides I know of that were of plastic or graphite were/are the AFTCO lite duty roller guides.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Phil

Aftco used to make an ultra-light roller guide that had a nylon or composite frame. I don't know if they still make them or if they were experimental but I've never seen them in a catalog and haven't seen any in about five years.

Ken

I take it you have never tried to use these guides on a rod ???
If you have - how did they work

Bill - willierods.com

I did have TWO sets. One set is on a rod I made for myself and it is still in service with no issues. I remember when I built it I was concerned about sun exposure and what effect UV / temperature changes would have on the frames. That rod was built in 1995 and is still put to work every season.
I'll see if I can find the guide set and post a photo later today.......

Sounds like they should be worth it

Bill - willierods.com