titanium sic or recoil guides?

[Tewantin]

Hi,

I'm planning to build up a 2-3 kg spin / sp rod. I want to build the rod up with the first priority being lightness. My question is which guide is lightest - titanium sic or recoil?
The second priority is friction and castability, so once again, ti sic or recoil?

Thanks,

Nick

[tunaticer]

Ive got TiSic single foots on my 1/3kg spin blank and they are not noticeable for weight affecting the action. They will not wear out either, I cant say the same about recoils with braids.

[Stuart]

SIC all the way mate. I have demonstrated to many of my customers the lose in distance using Recoil guides. They are dead set crap.

Stu

[splashy]

...just to be different, I'd use RECs anytime and all the time on my builds. RECS are easy to build, don't wear out - and for me and those who I know who use RECS - have not affected casting distance or anything (I'm not saying they won't affect everyone's casting, just not mine for the way I cast). I also like the noise they make when the braid drags over them when you get a good fish. For me it is part of the experience. Some people don't like that noise. In saying this, I don't like Fuji. Had too many fails, and too many come through with poor quality control - especially on the feet. So I just don't use them anymore. Big thumbs up for the RECs, can't recommend them highly enough.

[Mark Fisher]

Give me the TiSic's any day.

Regards
Mark

[Stuart]

Splashy

That just doesn’t make any sense what so ever. You like the noise the recoils make when the braid runs over them but it doesn’t make any difference to your casting distance. In case you don’t understand what the noise is, it’s the friction from the braid running over the guides. And the recoils have no effect on your casting style, irrespective of your casting style you still need to cast. I mean the line has to come off the spool at a given speed to gain distance, right? That being the case then any style of casting has no bearing what so ever to the friction recoils have on line. You don’t like Fuji guides? Had too many fail. That’s news to me mate. I have been building rods full time for 20 years and used Fuji that whole time and never experienced failures or bad quality control. I have seen other makes of guides and wonder how they ever sold one of them. Every one to their own right.

Stu

[sleepygreg]

Splashy...you just destroyed your credibility with your statement about Fuji guides. In 35 years of full time and part time professional rod building, I am struggling to recall a failure from a fuji guide through normal use (or fit for purpose use). Noise equals friction...friction equals abrasion....abrasion equals wear...wear equals failure. I have seen the odd guide with a defect in manufacture ......which was replaced immediately and apologetically by the agent.....i think that has happened maybe 4 or 5 times.......but that is WAY lower than than acceptable level of reject from a mass manufactured product.....and easily spotted by a competent rod builder.

Like Stu....I am amazed that some of the other guide manufacturers sell any guides...there is some absolute rubbish out there. (there is also some good stuff......but you sure pay for it).

Greg

[Tewantin]

Thank you to you all for your comments and opinions. I have always used fuji sic with all my rod builds.
I saw some Gloomis rods recently in one of the tackle stores with recoil guides. Based on the asking price and also the reputation of the rods I thought I'd find out more about recoils as an alternative.
One further question - I believe American Tackle now manufacture a titanium guide with a nanolite ring and I would like to know if anyone has had experience with these compared to fuji ti-sic?

Thanks,

Nick.

[Owen]

Nick,
WIth regard to recoils, they are still very popular in the U.S.
Not because of performance, but because of cost and the fact that there are lots of "traditionalists" that like the look of them.
Nobody seriosly thinks a snake guide out performs a modern guide, but they still use bucketloads of them over there.
I know a lot of West Coast builders that regularly get asked for recoils, but it is usually a cost thing and the people asking for them are also typically using mono.

I haven't used the AM-TAK titanium guides but I have some rods with some of their other models. So far so good..
I did have a ring fracture on a lighter rod, but it is probable it copped a knock at some point. I can't bag the brand based one one failure.

You can't really go wrong with the fuji stuff.
I also like the Alps guides (S/S) but not sure if they do any titanium stuff.

[craftycarp]

I have used fuji and other brands on and off for about 10 years and have to say the only break I have ever had with a fuji has been through my own miss handling of the rod. I have had other brands wear with over use on braid but never any of the fuji's. I only build rods for myself and for friends so I probably dont do the numbers that people like stuart do but that has been my experience.

[Trader1]

I have had the AM-tak titanium crack. This is tip tops, not the guides yet. Two have cracked. I believe the titanium is brittle. I have gone back to using fuji. I have had problems in the past with the older fuji guides rusting (green shock ring type) but these were cheaper quality and I never washed these rods down too often.

With regrad to customer support. Amtak were good enough to replace the tips, however I have not been game to use the replacements.

[NIZ180]

Don't forget all the problems associated with recoils & braid catching during casts. Go the fuji TiSic's & never look back.

I still don't get why G.Loomis don't use Fuji sic guides on their rods??? You would think they would atleast use them on the GLX/IMX rods considering what they charge for them?? Hell even your average $200 shimano/daiwa rod uses fuji sic guides.

[wheezer]

Owen mentioned it earlier-cost. it would be cheaper for them to use US manufactered RECs than japanese manufactured Fuji Ti SiCs

Fuji Ti SiC's all the way, there is nothing better