SU1418 blank guides (batson vs. fuji) ? blank opinions?

[chinookhead]

My friend has offered to build me a surf rod....he wants a winter project...lucky me. I just have to buy the parts.

This will be used with a 6500BY. I'll use 15-17# mono and a 40-50# shocker for casting 5-6 oz. + bunker chunk for stripers.... Something for when 8oz. is not needed.

What guides should I buy? Size? Are the Fuji's really better or are the Batson's or other brands just as good. I want guides that are light and durable...willing to pay a bit more for quality, but don't care about labels. Right now I'm thinking hardloys. I assume that I should end with 2 12's since I will use a shocker (tied with standard leader knot)?

[dingbat]

I used Fuji NSG SIC on the two I built. I ran 25,20,20, 16,16,16,16 with a 16 tip. I tried a 12 tip but the knot noise was driving me nuts.

[Clyde]

I use 12's on all my personal heavers now, don't have any issues with knots.

The 25 stripper will need to be on the butt section of this blank. Then a 20, 16, 4 12's and a 12 tip top. Fuji alconites are my favorite guide, best bang for the buck in my opinion. Definately go Fuji, anything else is just junk.

[chinookhead]

Ok, so I'll go with Fujis . Based on the mudhole prices the price difference between teh SIC and Alcanites is huge.....27 dollars for BMNAG Heavy Spin/Cast Guides and 86.61for the SIC ICMNSG Concept Casting Guides (hopefully these are the right models?). That's with the spacing that ends with 12's, but I'm still debating going with the 16's......I use Neil's standard leader knot and not the bimini....not sure if that matters.

With that much of a price difference and based on how hard and durable the Alcanites seem to be, right now I can't seem to justify the SIC. Also, I just read that some say the SiC guides are so hard that they are prone to crack.

Also, which model fuji tip top should I use.....probably something alcanite since I'll most probably pick the alcanites?

[chinookhead]

Even with alcanite guides I would not mind going with a SIC tip if this would be much better.

[Clyde]

Alconite top would be BMNAT.
SIC top would be MNST.

Cost is very close with these two, so go SIC if you want.

[dingbat]

Based on the mudhole prices the price difference between teh SIC and Alcanites is huge.....27 dollars for BMNAG Heavy Spin/Cast Guides and 86.61for the SIC ICMNSG Concept Casting Guides (hopefully these are the right models?).
I used the NSG Casting guides. About 1/2 the price of the Concepts