Hi everybody,

I am trying to use a piece of graphite tube for the handle on a casting rod. I am trying to match it up with a castaway reel seat from swampland. The two pieces don't mate exactly but are close. There is just a little bit of a rough edge where they meet. My question is what should I do about it? Should I sand the graphite tube? Or should I make a "ramp" out of Rod Bond epoxy?

Thanks for any suggestions you guys might have.

Patrick Rutledge

If you could post a picture, it might be easier to visualize what the difference really is.

Patrick,
I have done both on varying handles and either should work but given the choice I'd sand the graphite tube to fit before building the ramp.

Todd

Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com

Patrick,
Put the graphite tube in your lathe, and using a caliper to check diameters, sand it to size.
Roger

Todd,

Would you put anything on the tube after you sand it? Coat of permagloss around the edge? After the tube is sanded do I have to worry about it fraying or pealing later? Thanks

Patrick Rutledge

The difference in size would be less then 1mm I would say. It is just enough that it would bee very annoying to hold in your hand all day.

Patrick Rutledge

Are there ways of creating a reat seat on top of the graphite tube, apart from a flat reel seat? Hypothetically, I imagine it would be possible using a greatly enlarged skeleton reel seat...

There should be I think two different sizes of the tubes and I think one fits the seat rings to make a sort of Tennessee handle ?

Bill - willierods.com