Are Agate Stripping Guides Worth It?

2493 Views 9 Replies 7 Participants Last post by DeadandBloated, Nov 15, 2016

sixmanfootball

Discussion Starter · Oct 20, 2016

I have a Sage 389LL blank that I've been waiting to build up- really 'til my rod building skills are somewhat decent. I really like the looks of agate stripping guides but worry about their strength and/or longevity. I'm not sold on agate for the Sage, either. Maybe agate strippers go better with bamboo or fiberglass. Any advice?

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Bob Triggs

· #2 · Oct 20, 2016

Yes, they are very good, and have the classic look. The best would be ceramic.

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Flyguy65

· #3 · Oct 20, 2016

What color is the blank? I think agates look great on any rod. I fish bamboo 95% but graphite and glass when the weather is crummy. I built some graphite and glass rods old school with agate strippers and down locking reel seats....cool!

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gone johnson

· #4 · Oct 21, 2016

I don't know...you tell me!

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9140greenie

· #5 · Nov 14, 2016

They are pretty, but agate is not as durable as a ceramic insert. Agate is also softer than the softest ceramic inserts. With a 3 wt. I wouldn't be too concerned about putting on an agate guide. But it would also depend on how hard you are on you're equipment. If you do a lot of bush wacking and scrambling to get to water, I would not even consider putting on an agate guide. If you're considering an agate, you have an infinite choice of color/pattern that mother nature provides. And if you're ordering an agate, have them send you a picture of choices that are available.
I'm jealous that you own a 389LL. It is one of the nicest rods that Sage has made.

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Alex MacDonald

· #6 · Nov 14, 2016

go for show, not for function!!

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gone johnson

· #7 · Nov 15, 2016

I have many reels with agate line guides, with some dating back to the Roaring Twenties! Some of these reels show lots of wear to them in many places except for the agates. Nary a line burn on any of them and I have a couple of dozen. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen even a photo with with a line burn in the agate, Cracks? Yes, but grooves? No.

That doesn't mean they aren't out there, just that I haven't seen them, and I have seen a lot of agates. Keep in mind that a lot of these agates went through the period of braided silk lines that would pick up dirt and routinely wear grooves in metal line guides and aluminum reel frames. But not the agates.

If you use them on your rod, they'll likely be the last thing you ever have to replace.

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DeadandBloated

· #8 · Nov 15, 2016 (Edited)

View attachment 128437 View attachment 128441 Agate- with a hardness of 7 on the moh scale, would need something other than plastic line or normal dirty grit to saw into it.

Here are some agates I have and have been thinking of making my own guides : )

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Flyguy65

· #9 · Nov 15, 2016

Wow! Nice carnelian agates! The bottom pic looks like a chunk of beef jerky....

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DeadandBloated

· #10 · Nov 15, 2016 (Edited)

View attachment 128447 View attachment 128446 Yes! Some of nature's neatest stuff-agate!
Some of the agate/carnelian/jasper stuff looks like candy.

Ellensburg blue would make a nice color for a line guide-but pretty expensive-maybe for the finest of bamboo for sure.
And, top pic is discovering a 19 pound carnelian agate "bowling ball" in the water.

Sorry to hijack.

I do love the traditonal mixed with modern, agate with titanium looks very nice !

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