I still use Flex Coat rod builders epoxy for installing reel seat arbors. I find I can get it to flow and minimize clean up after installing. Wondering if anyone has any tricks for using a gel type (especially Lamar's) epoxy, and keeping clean up of the reel seat down?

Thanks,
Marc

I use white plumber's Teflon tape for masking irregular surfaces. That keeps clean-up to a nill for me. This type of "tape" (it doesn't have any adhesive) stretches as you put pressure on it and conforms to even the threads on the reel seat barrels.

I still use Rod Bond for this gluing task. I seldom need to use any of the Teflon tape when gluing up grips and reel seats anymore.

Putter
Williston, ND

Outstanding idea. I'll be off to get some teflon tape Friday.

Thanks Putter,

Marc

Any good hardware store should have it, Marc.

Putter
Williston, ND

Randy;
Excellent idea!
Can't believe with 20+ years of rod building and 30+ years as a plumbing contractor I never thought of that

I went without it for over 20 years, too, Steve. Use tons of it in the oilfield and didn't start using it in rod building until about 3 or 4 years ago.

Another tip using this stuff. When ending my wrap, and I go to break the tape, it's hard to find that end when I go to unwrap it later. Before laying the end of the tape down (after breaking it off), I twist the end up so that I can easily grab hold later on and unwrap it.

Putter
Williston, ND

Thanks for the tip Randy ! Great idea !
I always use Rod Bond, never tried anything else.

Steve; you should be ashamed !!

I should be ashamed also. I have been a welder for 30+ years and realized a few days ago what a good thread burnishing tool I had laying in my tool box. It is a 7" piece of 1/4 " dia pure tungsten electrode used for TIG welding heavy Aluminum. I rounded off the ends and polished it on a buffing wheel with rouge, looks like it has been chromed. Haven't used it yet, but it's got to be a goodun !

Marc didn't realize he was going to get all these good ideas when he posted !



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2007 01:21AM by Jay Hunt.

Putter, that is a great idea. I always usie masking tape, but teflon plumbers tape sounds much better. Thanks for the idea.

Mike Blomme

We cover the reel seat with blue painter's tape. We make especially sure to get the tape to cover the very ends of the seat, but not the rims, because then the tape ends up being part of the joint and you have to cut it out of there.

We use the "slide and twist" method of actually installing the seat, to ensure that most of the glue gets drawn into the channel between the blank and the arbor (we do the same thing when installing the arbor into the seat). We always leave the two end areas of the assembly bare of epoxy so we don't get a buildup of glue during the installation. Any excess that does get pushed out is wiped off immediately. We also make sure that no excess remains on the rim areas.

We, too, leave a little "tag" of the tape up so we can see where to start removing it. We also wipe off the seat with a moist shop towel (that has a neutral liquid, no residue) as soon as we unwrap it, to get rid of any residue from the tape. We use these twoels to clean our hands before touching anything, and also during and after the installation to minimize the chance of accidentally touching anything while there might be glue on our hands.

I really like the idea of the plumber's tape, though.

A little prep, a little practice, and as little handling as possible seems to be the "secret".

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Harbor Freight has boxes of teflon tape at a good price. One box has about 10 rolls of tape or there abouts.

Stan

Putter-- That is a great tip on useing the teflon tape.
Here is a tip to use as so the tape don't get dirty and is at your finger tips the next time you want to use it.
Take the roll of tape and push the inner ring of tape out of the outside ring.Now take an x-acto knife and with caution cut a slit just large enought for the tape to be pushed through the slit and put the outter ring back on. Now you can hold the roll of teflon tape and pull out and the inner ring will turn freely.Break off the tape and just let the tape fall back on the ring for the next time you need it.

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