Dennis Danku Wrote:
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> No, not for me. Too much bulk in the frame.

I agree. I’ll happily wait for a sleeker generation, if one arrives. There are multiple problems with the really thick frames. Along with using more carbon fiber, It takes a thick ring of ceramic to span that material. The thread tunnels will also be very tall and voluminous. These will need to be filled with quite a bit more finish to keep everything looking neat after drying (voids never look right), and to prevent water intrusion.

Titanium is a really good guide material. Along with being light and strong, it maintains shape memory, has a long vibration decay time, and is perfectly noble in regards to being corrosion proof. Supplanting titanium might take a few tries.

I don't mind thicker frames and guide rings IF they end up being lighter than a titanium frame and guide ring of similar size . If they could make the frames as thin as stainless and titanium they would but I don't see that being possible with carbon fiber at this time . The bottom line for me is are they lighter than titanium framed guides of equal size . I also don't think you will be able to thin the foot out, that bulk is needed to maintain their strength and that imo is their biggest negative from what I see from the images.

I am not a fan of the squared off edges on the feet, but the pattern is pretty sweet! Would match very well with the woven carbon fiber handles from NFC...

How does to frame react to bending, accidental or not?

So NFC, can the feet be ground? Tapered.

Kerry Hansen Wrote:
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> How does to frame react to bending, accidental or
> not?

The photos in the OP show that the guides are manufactured with unusually large radius bends, likely to limit bending stresses. I’m guessing this tells us something about how they react to bending.

My concerns are;

1) Can the end of the foot be tapered and dressed for a smooth thread wrap transition.

2) Is the bottom of the foot flat or radius-ed. I grind / machine / file or sand a radius under the guide foot for a more secure contact against the blank.

3) What will be the price range.

I know the foot can be dressed but the exposed whiskers of the fibers would have to be resealed or somehow impregnated.

I like the concept and believe these guides have a place in rod crafting.

Have fun

If you have worked with carbon fiber grips you know that unlike fiberglass the carbon stuff can be sanded without leaving any sort of "wiskers" sticking out. It sands smooth.

But if thinned tapered and thinned down will they be strong enough? Right now that looks like a pretty fat foot.

To me doesn't matter since they are so obtrusive and unattractive, so won't use them. My mind would never let go. It's just me.

Guides are way overbuilt for the job they have to do. They'd be plenty strong.

Rich Forhan covered this in his podcast with Bill Falconer a couple weeks back. Even a heavy bass, heavily loaded, only puts about a pound of load on any of the mid to lower section guides. Much, much less on the guides on the upper half of the rod.

............

I know there are a lot of questions - and answers are forthcoming.

For now - which do you prefer? A rounded ring frame design or classic?

For those that commented on the guide foot, those are easy (easiest?) to adjust.

Aleks

teardrop

I've seen carbon fiber frames that actually look very much like standard metal frames and they look very sleek and not bulky or thick at all which surprised me .

The NFC frames have a certain appeal to them and I'm not sure if I would prefer the NFC style or the style that looks a lot closer to traditional frames, I would have to see them in person but I'm leaning toward the NFC style . One thing that spooked me is the prices for some of the other carbon fiber guide frames that I saw , not what I was expecting and it appears I was wrong when I said I expected them to be cheaper than titanium framed guides .


I have no idea what NFC has planned for pricing but the ring material chosen will have an impact on that but It looks like carbon fiber guide frames will become much more prominent moving forward and I think it's a good thing because there are significant benefits to them over stainless steel which have been a mainstay for rod builders seemingly forever. The real question is how much lighter will they be than titanium and will they be cost effective enough to replace titanium with certain types of anglers .

Classic.

My vote would be for the classic design but they both look great

My preference is the rounded style, the classic to me looks like GUMBY.

I like the guides and would try them.
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Have fun.

I'd gladly try them out, just make a casting set soonest!

So what does a tip top look like?

I believe a conventional tip has to be used with these guides.

New ideas are fun to see. I have to say being a classic guy - I prefer the sleek look of nice stainless guides. And if they have stainless rings, they are already super light guides, so not sure how much performance advantage there would be?