Hello Gents,

My project of building two saltwater fly rods (#9 9'0"and #12 9'0") for myself continue.

I am still pondering between two running guide options after I received the guides I ordered. I chose Pacbay Minima M4 Titanium Tiblack in size 7 for the 9wt and Recoil RSNX Black Pearls in #5 for the #12 rod.
After weighing them out of interest I got 0.13grams for the #5 Recoils and 0.26grams for the M4 #7. As weight matters the most near the rod tip I started wondering how much the second wrap and finish of a snake guide actually add weight? Has anyone of you weighed this? I might be splitting hairs here and of course I can determine the difference of total weights including wraps and coatings for these two different guides myself but any help is highly appreciated.

Many thanks!

-Miki-

Yes it does add weight. Enough to offset any additional guide weight from the other set? There's really only one way to know - you'd have to wrap up two sets, finish them, then cut the off and weigh them.

Of course you could also tape up a set of each and try them out. The slight difference in weight we're talking about might not be noticeable to you, or then again, it might be.

At any rate, keep your wraps as short as possible and use the lightest finish coat you can get by with. PermaGloss would be a good choice here. Even 3 coats of PG is apt to be lighter than 1 coat of even a light build epoxy. But again, we're talking very, very slight differences on these somewhat heavy power fly rods.

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you have a total of 39 grams that is equal to 0.09 of a pound I don't believe that it will be noticeable but I do agree with Tom 's statement for the finish to keep it as thin as possible either with perma gloss or luma seal both are a thin light solvent based urethane and will provide a nice as durable finish as epoxy finish but a bit lighter.

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

As a builder of only fly rods, my preference is to always go with single foot guides. The choice of wire or minima makes very little difference. Ans as Tom states on rods of 9 & 12 wt. wraps weights are not likely to be noticed.

The Minimas will be fine. Make sure to use security wraps on the back side of the ring though. You do not want a guide pulled out when pulling a rod out of a tube or rod box while you are on a once in a lifetime trip.

Mike makes a very good point! Always use a locking wrap on single foot guides.

Single-foot guides on big-fish rods are somewhat better than snake guides at casting but worse at fighting fish. Big fish can instantly snap leaders when the line is fouled or impeded in the guide train. The geometry of a snake guide gives it a maximum effective opening, and a loop in your line which catches on ring guide would slide off a snake guide.

Thank you gents for the help!

Just for the curiosity sake I think I'll weight the plain tip sections and guides going in, wrap them up and coat them and weight the complete tips. This should give me some idea of the added weight although the blanks obviously are different.

Cheers!

-Mikko-

Weight the tips first, and again after wrapping and finishing. That way you can accurately compare the final tally by removing the original tip weights.

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Thanks Tom! Yes, that is the plan.

Cheers!

-Miki-