Hello and sorry for those who have already seen that post on that board (I did not enter my real name and I got slammed).
I will build 2 rods using CD blanks 3 pieces 9wt and 8wt. They are xfast blanks (57 Msi). Normally, I use titanium frame sic ring fuji guides as strippers and Titanium single food snakes. I use the guide spacing/sizing chart provided by Sage for their RPLXi rods.

This time, I plan to use Alconite single foot guides and I thought about the following configurations:

8wt: 7*SF guides BLAG 8, 1*SF guide BLAG10, 12 mm BLNAG12, 16 mm BLNAG16, tip top BFAT8-4.5
9wt: 7*SF guides BLAG 8, 1*SF guide BLAG10, 16 mm BLNAG16, 20 mm BLNAG20, tip top BFAT8-4.5

I was told to put the 2nd stripper at 10 cm in front of the the first one.

Questions:
What do you think of the hardware choosen to build the rods?
What spacing chart would you use to start to position the guides on the blank?
I guessed that the guides should be placed on the other side of the spin as usual for building heavy rods?

Thank you a lot for any suggestions and to share your experience.
Serge

I think you've made some excellent choices on the sizes and number. The alconites are good guides and maybe not that off from SIC in terms of the difference you feel. I would use the spacing chart from the blank maker to get me started.

If you want the most power, put the stiff axis so that the fish will be pulling against it.

If you want good tracking on the cast then put the spine either up or down. I like the spine on the bottom personally, for best casting.

Serge,

I just built a similar rod, a 9' 9 wt., although i prefer a bit softer rod than what you have.

After reading many posts here about the superiority of single foot 'ceramic' style guides, I decided to go with the Fuji Alconites. I used single foot spinning type guides for the 'stripping' and the next three guides, then single foot fly guides for the rest.

I used two 16s (one about four inches above the first 'stripper' guide), a 12, a 10, four 8s and five 7s.

I set it up with just nine guides plus the 'extra' stripper to start, but the rod just needed more guides.

Once done, it looksVERY different from a 'normal' fly rod, but it's the best casting heavy fly rod I've ever used. I'm throwing a 375 grain shooting head with .30 running line, and I can easily get it out about 130 feet. Thats WAY farther than I thought I'd ever cast with a fly rod. The lines just sails through these guides, and I'm sold on the extra stripping guide as well (I'd tried that on a lighter rod with great results).

Anyway, unless someone I'm building one for asks specifically, AND I can't talk them out of it, I'm done with snake guides.

Good Luck!

Buddy