What is the best way to set up to mortise reelseats without a milling machine?

Mike
Mikes Custom Fly Rods

Rig a stand to support a router while the insert is in the lathe. Or, a shaper (table model) with the insert above the cutting head.

You can also do this by hand, but the work will be more exacting and take longer.

Do a search on this forum for more information. Lots of guys here do this sort of thing in all manner of ways.

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I use a hole saw on a drill press. If the resulting hole is too large I grind down the few teeth that create a wide saw kerf which will produce a smaller hole. I replace the drill bit for the piolet hole and replace it with a 1/4" stainless rod that fits the 1/4" hole in the cork. I adjust the smooth rod to cut only as deep as I need. It stops cutting when the rod hits the table. I use a Dremel to remove the excess cork inside the hole.
This creates a wonderfully true hole that you can not produce freehand.
Herb

Hi Mike you do not need a milling machine most do it with a router I use a $18.00 1/4 inch router I got off @#$%& and a $12.00 router tabel from Lows when on sale if you e-mail me at kayaonekaya@yahoo.com and I will send you some pics the bits are mod 5/8 fingernile bits from a gentelman in N.Y. for around 30.00 each if you have a 1/2 inch router they run arond 18.00 hope this is of help Jeff Rhonda and Kaya net pup