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NFC X-Ray
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:03 pm
by Bbrotz
I just seen the NFC x-rays are available in a black mirror finish now. Has anyone tried them yet? I’m wondering if they are just sanded with a clear coat applied. I’m not a fan of unsanded blanks so I might be interested in picking one up
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:24 pm
by Cal
They are sanded, and then buffed to achieve that finish... nothing is applied. At least that's what the initial literature stated.
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:25 pm
by Hobie-Wan Kenobi
If using the same materials and manufacturing process with the addition to the sanding, should soften the actions a small bit. Will probably be hardly noticable side by side.
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2021 1:39 pm
by jglenn21
i don't recall them ever saying they were sanded.. buffed yes..
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:31 pm
by godshippy
Isn't buffing essentially sanding? You're using a high grit abrasive to get the smooth finish?
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:13 pm
by Cal
jglenn21 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 1:39 pm
i don't recall them ever saying they were sanded.. buffed yes..
It is Gary Loomis's philosophy to sand the blanks to remove the ridges created by the cellophane wrap used to hold the graphite together during the baking process. Those ridges offer no performance enhancing purpose and are simply a biproduct of making the blanks. By sanding the ridges off, you remove unnecessary weight, therefore increasing performance.
I shared this somewhere in our 2013 article on the new operation:
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewedgefishing.html
If a blank is smooth, it's been sanded. If there are ridges, like in a lot of the popular JDM rods, it is unsanded.
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:48 am
by HobeyBaker
I stopped by to pick up a couple of rods from a custom builder yesterday. He has a bunch of the sanded blanks that I was able to look at. They’re still a matte/unpainted finish, but the ridges are sanded off. I wonder if it had to do with some of the swirling that was found on blanks because these all looked perfect.
Re: NFC X-Ray
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 12:30 pm
by jglenn21
actually when you sand the Xray blanks it makes them slower/softer... not as crisp.. also no cellophane used in a Xray blank.. all carbon .. not really sure you can feel the difference( sanding) but Gary documented this on the Xray page. for the current sale price of $85 it's the best thing going IMHO... quality has improved also.