hey all,
i was wondering about where to find a 13/16ths wood boring paddle bit to drill out a cork ring for the hood on a fly seat. do any of the sponsors on the left sell them? the hood for my seat measures to this size outside diameter. also do you epoxy the the hood into that first bored out ring? thanks for the help. this is my first attempt at a fly rod.
regards, dave daniels.

Dan Craft has a specialty tool that is adjustable for bore diameter. It is made specifically for boring cork grips to accept various sized reel seat hoods. It also self centers, so you're ensured of getting a precise job every time - no wandering or split-outs on the expensive grip.

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Dan Craft (Sponsor on the left) has created a special tool for just this process. I have not purchased or tried it, nor do I know anyone that has, so I can't give you a first (or second)-hand report. However, Dan created a video of the tool in use and it looks really impressive. I'm sure that, if it is not posted on his website, Dan would e-mail yo a copy of the video.

That being said, what I do to inlet a grip is simply to trace a circle on the bottom of the grip using the insert as a guide, and carefully use a moto-tool (Dremel) to rout it out.

It does not create a perfectly smooth bore, but as long as you stay within your traced circle, the lip on the insert will cover it up anyway and you will have a perfect fit.


Walt

Try a Forstner bit

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!!

I bought on from Dan a little over 2 weeks ago. Simple to use and works very well. Sets up to do a variety of sizes.

One thing to remember while you are inletting the grip. To be on the safe side take a hose clamp and put around the ring you want to ream up to 13/16 and tighten the clamp before you start to cut. This will keep the ring(s) from splitting. This little trick also works when you want to glue the grip to the reel seat. Place the hose clamp over the ring covering the reel hood and tighten. This will produce a glue bondline that is perfectly formed to the reel seat hood without any gaps in the corners.

Michael A Taylor
Bluewater Fly Tackle

Great tip! Thanks, Michael

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!!

That is a great tip. Thanks.

Michael and his business partner will be presenting a seminar on building blue water fly rods at the 2008 ICRBE.

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thanks guys for all the rapid responses.