I've read a few things about using spinning reel seats on flyrods. Jann's has some nice cheap aluminum ones. The only problem is that they are 4 inches long. I was thinking about cutting off 1/2" to save some weight. What would be the best way to get a straight, clean cut?

Wrap some masking tape around the seat to give you a straight edge to cut against and than dress up lightly with sandpaper block or a fine file.

Several 'best way's come to mind. Depends upon what you have in the shop. Hacksaw, metal bandsaw, lathe cut-off, angle grinder, and chop saw all come to mind. If the seat has some sort of finish on it, then you want to avoid overheating it. Slowest but least heat generating methods would be the hacksaw and then either bandsaw or metal lathe cut-off.

I have no idea what tools or machinery you might have on hand. I'll assume you don't have much, no more than the average guy anway.

So, with a dremel tool (I'm assuming you might have one of these) you can use a cut-off wheel to make a pretty nice cut. Use a piece of masking tape for a straightedge as Spencer mentioned. After you've made the cut, use a flat file to square everything up.

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Actually, I'm getting a Dremel for my birthday soon. I was thinking about using it for this purpose. My main concern is that the threads are angled, and whatever tool I use will tend to follow that angle. Therefore, the end result may not be perfectly flat. I was thinking about rigging up a miter box to use with a hack saw to get a straight cut,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2007 02:17PM by Curtis Trompler.

Curtis,
With a wrap of tape as a guide you'll be surprised by how accurate you can make a cut. The threads will not be as much a problem as you may think.

I use a chop saw with an abrasive cutoff wheel for cutting all of my blanks and reel seats. Quick and straight.

Take care
REW

p.s.
If you do a lot of rod work, a purchase of such a chop saw works very well.

For example:

[www.northerntool.com]