QUESTIONS :
1.) Can you give me one reason that the titanium-nickel fly rod stripper guides marketed by REC (As, "recoil" guides) and found on some high end rods don't have ceramic ring inserts ?
The guide can be bent over and it will spring back in to shape, or recoil to the original shape.
2.) They don't corrode in salt water. Why ?
Being made of Ni wire they are more or less Salt water proof. The Brass or Stainless steel still have a oxidation problem when subjected to Saltwater.
3.) How do they compare in weight with more commonly used stripper guides....such as those from Fuji and Pac. Bay ?
They are some what lighter. One Recoil # 3 weights about the same as 5 snake SS guides. Then subject the single wrap and single epoxy coat use on the single foot guides you have reduced the weight on the end of the rod. this is a reduction in the moment of recovery of the tip.
I do not use the Recoils for striper guides. I do not like the fine edge that the line is pulled over. I use a guide with a insert. This gives the wider area for the line to be stripped over.
4.) Some U.S. fly rod manufacturers are reluctant to use the single foot wire Ti/N guides on the tip sections. Why ?
Tradition are the biggest. Second the mass wrapping produces some problems. Some think that the single foot guide will pull out from under wrap. There is also something to be said for the snake guides to allow the knots at the line to leader to pass if the rod is rolled upside down letting the knot rub on the guide not the ring for the guide. Many rods are broken when the leader knot or backing knot (we wish) hangs in the guides.
Some think that the small foot of the Ni guides puts more pressure on the blank at a smaller area. I have never seen this failure in any single foot guide.
5.) Is this fear well founded ?
I have never had this but I do place 3 to 5 wraps at the heel of the guide. I have found that on a graphite the guides are noisy. Not bad but you can get a buzz as the line shoots out.
The cost it the only problem I have with the guides. In fresh water I will use the cheaper guides like Batson's Forecast single foot in a Smoke Chrome or gunsmoke plated SS wire.
ol Al
I have even put Recoil guides on my Harry Boyd Cane rod. This make it a very nice to cast and shoot like with.