Hi all
First post here looking for some advice if poss.
Currently have a pair of Vic Gibson hand built Armalites in 12ft 2 1/2 Test.
Love the rods love the action lovely to play fish on; don't want to swap-em for anything..!
However they are getting a bit beaten up after all these years.
So might get them stripped an rebuilt.
However choosing rings rings is causing me a nightmare headache...!
Looking for something in black that keeps in with the modern slimline design on most rods but ideally has a lining of some sort. (it seems a lot of modern rings are not lined at all...??).
Any idea as to options and what should be avoided at all costs.
ATB
P
First post here looking for some advice if poss.
Currently have a pair of Vic Gibson hand built Armalites in 12ft 2 1/2 Test.
Love the rods love the action lovely to play fish on; don't want to swap-em for anything..!
However they are getting a bit beaten up after all these years.
So might get them stripped an rebuilt.
However choosing rings rings is causing me a nightmare headache...!
Looking for something in black that keeps in with the modern slimline design on most rods but ideally has a lining of some sort. (it seems a lot of modern rings are not lined at all...??).
Any idea as to options and what should be avoided at all costs.
ATB
P
In reply to Post #1
I like the 3d kigans i prefer the gunmetal colour but they also do them in black these guides do have a liner in them.
A lot of people seem to use the american tackle ti forged air guides, similar to the fuji k series frame shape, but i have avoided them as i do use braid a bit and am unsure of their durability with braid?
I like the 3d kigans i prefer the gunmetal colour but they also do them in black these guides do have a liner in them.
A lot of people seem to use the american tackle ti forged air guides, similar to the fuji k series frame shape, but i have avoided them as i do use braid a bit and am unsure of their durability with braid?
In reply to Post #2
Hey woody
The ti forged air guides are lined i thought not......
https://www.americantackle.us/product-page/tiforged-air-guides
They looked so slim i couldn't believe they run a liner..?
TBH..
Was looking at these if im feeling v flush..
https://www.americantackle.us/product-page/pentalite-guides
Really would like to put them side by side tho
P
Hey woody
The ti forged air guides are lined i thought not......
https://www.americantackle.us/product-page/tiforged-air-guides
They looked so slim i couldn't believe they run a liner..?
TBH..
Was looking at these if im feeling v flush..
https://www.americantackle.us/product-page/pentalite-guides
Really would like to put them side by side tho
P
In reply to Post #1
Kigan black or american tackle delta guides are very good. A warning Armalites are a very hard blank to refurb due to the strands in the carbon standing up takes an age sanding and cutting. I certainly would,nt do them again.
The ti guides are metal lined not ceramic and are not recommended for use with braid.
Kigan black or american tackle delta guides are very good. A warning Armalites are a very hard blank to refurb due to the strands in the carbon standing up takes an age sanding and cutting. I certainly would,nt do them again.
The ti guides are metal lined not ceramic and are not recommended for use with braid.
In reply to Post #4
Hi there
Sure i had heard that they can be difficult with the slightly raised weave, he has done several before tho and the results look good..
P
Hi there
Sure i had heard that they can be difficult with the slightly raised weave, he has done several before tho and the results look good..
P
In reply to Post #5
Yeah i have done a few sets in my time but only my own as the time it takes to get them right is just not worth it in my opinion . Good luck with them .
Yeah i have done a few sets in my time but only my own as the time it takes to get them right is just not worth it in my opinion . Good luck with them .
In reply to Post #5
Welcome to the forum mate
Jic you don't know, jeffire is a rod builder, knows his onions.
Welcome to the forum mate
Jic you don't know, jeffire is a rod builder, knows his onions.
In reply to Post #4
Are those the delta nanolite guides?
Are those the delta nanolite guides?
In reply to Post #8
👍 not the lightest but very strong
👍 not the lightest but very strong
In reply to Post #9
Hi all
Sure.
Like i say he has deffo done several Armas before and they do look top and somehow retains that raised carbon weave as a finished effect, the work he does in general looks amazing.
Any thoughts on the Pentalites from AT (if my wallet goes that deep)..?
Love the modern slim profile rings but really would like a solid insert.?
While these are very not cheep they seem to tick both boxes Slim profile and an "ceramic" type insert..
(or am i just being a knob who know nothing about such maters).
P
Hi all
Sure.
Like i say he has deffo done several Armas before and they do look top and somehow retains that raised carbon weave as a finished effect, the work he does in general looks amazing.
Any thoughts on the Pentalites from AT (if my wallet goes that deep)..?
Love the modern slim profile rings but really would like a solid insert.?
While these are very not cheep they seem to tick both boxes Slim profile and an "ceramic" type insert..
(or am i just being a knob who know nothing about such maters).
P
Interesting thread ...
I have Armalites ,which currently are velly nicey...however ,one day won't be as nice ..
I've rebuilt loads of rods since I was a kid ..however I'm no Jeff or Bruce,..in times past I have stripped the varnish off of ,raised weave blanks very carefully and painstakingly using a Stanley blade 🔪..
What I want to know is could something like a paint remover be used to speed things up ..ie nitromors or similar obviously you would have to make the blank as clean as poss before rebuilding .
Over to Jeff...?
I have Armalites ,which currently are velly nicey...however ,one day won't be as nice ..
I've rebuilt loads of rods since I was a kid ..however I'm no Jeff or Bruce,..in times past I have stripped the varnish off of ,raised weave blanks very carefully and painstakingly using a Stanley blade 🔪..
What I want to know is could something like a paint remover be used to speed things up ..ie nitromors or similar obviously you would have to make the blank as clean as poss before rebuilding .
Over to Jeff...?
How are they rung at the moment?
Are you planning on changing the ring spacing at all? I know a lot of the older rods had a lot more rings on them which affected the playing action.
I think the number of legs on each ring can make a difference too. I rebuilt a rod that had double feet with singles & it felt much softer afterwards.
If you're doing it yourself, make sure you have a practice with another older rod first - you will make mistakes & it's better to do it on a **** blank. I found the whole rod building thing a lot of fun & very therapeutic.
Are you planning on changing the ring spacing at all? I know a lot of the older rods had a lot more rings on them which affected the playing action.
I think the number of legs on each ring can make a difference too. I rebuilt a rod that had double feet with singles & it felt much softer afterwards.
If you're doing it yourself, make sure you have a practice with another older rod first - you will make mistakes & it's better to do it on a **** blank. I found the whole rod building thing a lot of fun & very therapeutic.
In reply to Post #12
I have 9 lined eyes on my armalites
My son has a set as well,made by Bob Morris ,also 9 eyes..
I'd be keeping them zackly how they were made ,keeping true to the principles of the players rods ,that they are ...I know more modern rods have less eyes ..
Of course,they don't need rebuilding as they are Bob the Rod minters,but in the future ,after lots of fish ..who knows....
Best tip I was told,with Armalites,and Ngs probably other century rods,is don't store them away damp for long periods ,or they go milky...
I have 9 lined eyes on my armalites
My son has a set as well,made by Bob Morris ,also 9 eyes..
I'd be keeping them zackly how they were made ,keeping true to the principles of the players rods ,that they are ...I know more modern rods have less eyes ..
Of course,they don't need rebuilding as they are Bob the Rod minters,but in the future ,after lots of fish ..who knows....
Best tip I was told,with Armalites,and Ngs probably other century rods,is don't store them away damp for long periods ,or they go milky...
In reply to Post #11
The only way to rebuild an armalite (century) blank is the way you did it . Hours and lots of blades an absolute pain in the arse . Some stripper reacts horribly with carbon so i would,nt go that route myself. Years ago i consulted with Dave lumb,,and others and they all agreed it was the way to go although steve once did three for me in the factory and said dont bring anymore
Like you i would not go less than 9 guides on them the blank performs much better with more guides...
The only way to rebuild an armalite (century) blank is the way you did it . Hours and lots of blades an absolute pain in the arse . Some stripper reacts horribly with carbon so i would,nt go that route myself. Years ago i consulted with Dave lumb,,and others and they all agreed it was the way to go although steve once did three for me in the factory and said dont bring anymore
Like you i would not go less than 9 guides on them the blank performs much better with more guides...
In reply to Post #14
Thank you very much Jeff,advice fully noted and heeded...
🥂
Thank you very much Jeff,advice fully noted and heeded...
🥂