I want to use a cork fighting butt that has an ID of .375". The blank's OD is .310". Is there a good way to make up the difference? Or, is that a small enough gap that the epoxy will work with no problem?

I was reading in a rodbuilding book that when a reel seat is too large you can wrap thread around the blank and then coat with epoxy to bulk up the blank. I think the same stratagey would work here. I think this way the bond will be stronger. I know that you don't want any wobble. Hope that helps.

YOu could coat teh blank with 5 minute epoxy to build up a large area, then sand the epoxy down to fit the cork over. But it does add quite a bit of weight. I save this for when I put an extension and want to build the drop off where the blank enters the other so that it iseven.

Thanks for the ideas. It seems that the overall difference is less than 1/16", so that, if the blank is centered in the hole, I would have less than a 1/32" gap all they around. Should be able to take up that space with a thread wrap. I am not building up a large area. The fighting butt is only 1 1/4'" long, so I would estimate that the hole (and the area that I need to build up) is an inch long, or less.

Oh. That's a job for thread for certain.

Thread as Billy said. If that worrys you, and it shouldn't, you could ream out the cork a bit and insert a foam arbor (dont ream the nose if is shows, cover with winding check), but I'd use the thread for SURE.

DR

Thanks, guys. Thread it is.

The poly glues like sumo and gorrila can fill gaps, they foam up. Also some mesh sheet rock tap can help out there too.

Henry,
How do you keep the blank centered while the glue cures, or does it set-up pretty quick?
George

wrap some thin strips of tape to shim it centered. Its not fast drying at all.