For those of you who turn your own reel seat insert, how do you but the groove in them if you want one(the groove the the reel feet sets between)? I heard of using a dremel, but im not sure how acurate this would be. I would like some advice before i mess up a nice piece of stabilized wood. Thanks in advance.............eric

That's done with a router mortise bit called a thumbnail, try venneris.com I think he sells them, if I remember right, along with kits to make the hardware.

Spencer

Unless you plan to make a lot of the mortised seats the bit for routing the seats is relatively expensive and requires additional capabilities. I have found that sticking with seats that are compatable with a barrel type insert work just as well for all practical purposes.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

If your up for a little work, you could use masking tape as a guide and hand sand it to shape. takes time but it can be done

I use Struble reel seats, which I prefer, and they don't required a groove.

Eric,

I chuck up a cylindrical sander roller in the lathe, a little larger than the ones you would use on a drill press, more like the ones on a shaper. (Harbor Freight sells a set with many sizes). I rest one end of the mandrel on the tool rest and run the insert up and down the sander to create a flat spot. If I am going to add a cap and ring, I sand the flat spot to one end of the insert. If I make an sliding uplock or dual ring reel seat, I leave the ends on the insert round and flatten the middle section. I have some pics under handle assemblies if you would like to get ideas.

Russ Miller