I want to mount a Fuji FPS reelseat on a Forecast IP904 blank with a split rear grip and a single ring as a foregrip. The blank diameter in front of the reelseat is about .440 in diameter, a 16mm NPS has an oval front end around .654 x .702. I'd like to have the single ring wind up as close to the same diameter as the reelseat so I could lay my finger on the blank. But that will put the wall thickness of that single front ring at .107 minimum. Is this too thin? What would be the best type ring to turn down to the smallest OD - cork, burl, rubber impregnated cork? Would it be easier to turn the ring already glued to the blank? I could move up to a Fuji 18mm seat but it looks too large on this blank. If this isn't possible l'll have to make it a bit larger than I want to. Thanks.

If you have the skill you can turn any material down to almost paper thinness. The blank will support it underneath, so it will retain sufficient support to do what you need it to do. But, when you start turning things down to such a point, it is very important that things be perfectly concentric. Even minor imperfections in terms of fit and finish will easily show when you're working with smaller, thinner, closer fitting pieces.

For what it might be worth to you, the reel seat should be sized to suit your hand, not the blank. If the 18 feels more comfortable, use it.

...........

Tim,

Something else you might want to try is a small epoxy "ramp" between the blank and seat and wrap right up it. Put you rod in the dryer (or turn by hand) and put a gob of 5 min epoxy where yhe blank joins the seat. Raise the tip a little to get the ramp angle that you want. The turning of the rod will give you a nice smooth ramp right to the edge of the seat. Just wrap right up the ramp and when you get to the top, just put a small dab of Super glue to hold the tag in pace and tape the end out of the way. Put finish on and when it's dry, trim off the loose end flush. Makes a nice looking transition.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Tim,

You have advise from two of the best in the business. Tom's suggestion of gluing every thing to the blank and then thining it down is excellant, particullarly with cork. I have slightly modified Mike's idea and wrapped thread up snug with the thin end of the grip to help ramp it up. While I have never done this with cork, I have achieved some excellant results with wood where I sanded down the thin area before wrapping thread. (I turn it down first with my wood lathe, then finish it off with sandpaper on my rod wrapper) I have used Andy Dear's new mandrels with great success with mahogany on on 3/8 inch dia butt rods on 16 mm reel sets. (The reel seat is also wood)

You can take this for what it is worth from a "green horn"

Mike, I'm retired too and only my wife tells me what to do. At least she is going to let me go to Charlotte, but she hasn't given me my allowance yet. . See you in Charlotte!!

Ed