Hey guys,

Did a search but came up empty-handed. I'm trying to cut my EVA foam grips to suit the rear section of the Fuji SBS reel seat and am having trouble getting a perfectly fitting grip. My efforts with the belt sander turned out ok, but it was hard work and not 100% perfect (most people wouldn't notice, but I do).

So, my question is, has anyone use Nichrome wire to cut an EVA grip before and did it work nicely? I don't want to go to all that trouble to build one if it doesn't work anyway.

Thanks.

I think most use thread to cut the grip while turning on a mandrel. Remember not to wrap the thread around your fingers, but hold the thread between them only!

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

Thread works great. Like Ted said, simply hold it between fingers, NOT wrapped around them!!!! Just like slicing butter

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!!

Michael,
You can also shape the foam grip material (either Hypalon or EVA) using a dry wall sanding screen. Just cut the screen into smaller strips and then use a lathe or power drill to turn the foam while shaping with the strip of screen. It is very effective.

Mike blomme

CAn anyone explain how it would be possible to cut the contour shape of an SBS seat with thread or drywall sanding screen?

Waht I would do is se an Exacto knife and do my best to "trace" teh shape of the seatt. I wouldn't try to be perfect, I would try to get it where I can continue to take a little bit more off each time until it fit perfectly. Obviously, this doesn't answer your question regarding the wire cutter, and is probably not as perfect as you get with teh belt sander. MAybe try using a drum sander to ge this shape?

It'd be easier to do it with square EVA stock, but failing that, try making a template and clamp from wood and allthread. Think along the lines of a split grip clamp. The radii and length measurements can be obtained from Fuji Japan's website, and traced out onto the wood. Cut 2 pieces, and cut the shape of the seat. Then, with the 2 pieces clamped together, drill them to accept the allthread. They can now be used to clamp round EVA together, and you can use either hot wire, a drum sander or a knife to follow the curves.

Thanks for the replies guys, but I think you've misunderstood what I mean, or I didn't communicate it a little better.

Cutting (straight lines) or shaping the grip is fine, but I need to be able to cut the curve for the SBS seat, and obviously I can't spin it in a lathe to do this cut since its a kind of S shaped along the length of the grip.

I'm trying to find a picture of the Fuji SBS reel seat, but am finding nothing at the moment.

Nope, I get you just fine. Template out the curve onto 2 pieces of wood, drill and use allthread to align them. Clamp EVA between the wood, and cut away!!

Thanks Billy and Ted. I didn't see your posts when I replied, but you've both given me ideas. I think combining both Ted's template idea with Billy's drum sander would work well. The drum sander will ensure that the entire grip is cut flat at the same time, and the template would be used to see when to stop the sanding.

Now to the next question, does anyone have a template for the Fuji SBS seat? Pretty much a long shot really, I guess I'll have to get off my butt and make it myself :)

Oops!! Sorry Michael. Misunderstood the question!!

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!!

just one question about using thread to cut the eva.. whats the reason for not wrapping the thread round the fingers?

-
Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day..
Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke!

Christopher,

If the thread were somehow to get caught or wrap into the lathe mandrel, you may end up with a big hurt!!!!!

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!!

ahh , i was thinking if it was due to that... thanks mike..

-
Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day..
Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke!

[classiccustomwood.com]

Billy, that template is for the Fuji IPS seat. The SBS seat has a different rear curve, with 2 curves of different radii. The IPS only has one. The SBS template can be found on Fuji Japan's site, in the catalogue section. The catalogue is also downloadable as a PDF's for the different sections. I can e-mail the graphite seats section if needed.

Ted...

Thanks mate, I totally forgot about that I actually already have the full japanese catalogue. They've provided perfect measurements for me to make my own template.

Ted, sorry about that. I knew it was for an IPS, but assumed it was close to or the same as the SBS. I also have a Fuji Japan catalouge, but it's on loaner at the present time.

Mike, good luck, post a pic when you're done.