I am laying up handle assemblies on 4 50# stand up rods tonight. I do have FC arbors to fit the reel seats that I have. I have always used drywall tape/rod bond for the installation of the reelseats in this class. Does anyone have any experience in using the FC arbors for a 50# rod? I'm a little nervous about this one. I know that the arbors could take the shear, but I'm more concerned about the blank flexing over time and possibly "crushing" or elongating the bore of the arbor.

I'm all about trying something easier because the tape/epoxy thing is a real mess, at least for me. But I don't need something happening with a 70# YFT on the end.

I just used one on a 50-80# rod with a Fuji BPS seat. I don't htink anyone can tell you how they hold up over time, as it's a new prodcut - but I doubt there would be any more or less of a problem when using these as you would using anythign else.

it was a heck of a lot easier to use this over Drywall, I got the handle assembly glued up in 1/3 the time it took my to put the handle on teh other 50-100# rod I wrapped last week. Got one more to go, waiting for a new Composite GUSA 50-80# blank to arrive - I've got 2 trips next weekend so hopefully they'll all get worked out on much bigger than 70# YF's.

Thanks Billy, I'm going to give it a go. Besides, they are for a friend.. how much trouble could I get in?
Good luck, they are killing the bigeyes here in NC.

How big are the BigEye's? My Friday trip got pushed back, Ophelia pushed teh warm water South so the Captain decided it might be a better idea to wait rather than go just to go. Still have a trip planned for next Monday/Tuesday.

That gives me an extra day or 2 to wrap my rods. Maybe I'll do a butt wrap?

If it' s not your rod, and you're not comfortable, don't do it.

From 9/19
"First boat in had a good catch of big eye tunas They had them on all at once and landed everyone that they had on. The weights on these fish is 133, 132, 123, 192 and 188."
I used the arbors. It's so much eaisier. Next set I'm going to try the arbors on the slick butt.

That's sweet. Why are you wasting time wrapping rods for someone else to use fishing....get out there and go fishing yourself!!!

The arbors are easier especially if you have a lot of sizes of the drill bits. Even without, they are extremely easy to ream and get close enough to coencentric.

Monday, I'll umm.....be on hand to observe if my guide placement was correct.