I am building a 4pc 3wt rod. I will be turning the cork handle and wanted to turn the cork reel seat as well so it will be one complete unit. A couple of questions: 1) does it make sense to do it that way; 2) where can I get reel seat rings (?) and an endcap for the rod.

Hopefully my questions above make sense.

Many thanks in advance.

Bailey

Sure you can do it. But you will have to figure out some way to get the rings on the seat barrel. Here is what I suggest to you. Glue up all the rings on your mandrel, but DO NOT put any glue between the rings that form the front of the seat or the back of the grip. Then after you turn everything, you slip these apart, slide the seat barrel on the rod, add the rings, then slide the grip down on the rod. Once the epoxy sets they are one piece for all intents and purposes.

You can also do it by making the handle and seat one piece -- minus an end cap that will hold the rings from falling off the seat. After it is all done and every thing is the right size, you put your rings on --then glue on the end so they do not fall off Figure it all on paper first, size you want, before you glue and shape.
You could also make it as said with the handle one type of cork and the seat another type of cork, then just glue together
I take it you want to use slip rings as a tennessee handle.

Bill:

This is exactly what I want to do (make the handle and reel seat out of the same cork). Don't I need the end-cap to keep the rings from falling off? Can you recommend where I can buy the rings and end cap?

Thanks in advance,

Bailey

Any of the suppliers on the left should have them I guess you want the Tennessee handle rings. Or the Sliding rings for fly rod seats. Think they are thinner. I think they are a 1" OD. Put up some pictures. You could also make the end out of cork, just glue it on after the rings are on. Or maybe some colored cork



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2005 03:45PM by bill boettcher.