Hi folks,
Got a request for a build with a Minima reel seat. Problem is that the smallest Minima seat base is 0.374 " ID, and the blank OD where the seat needs to go is about 0.321". I'm familiar with using arbors to take up extra space, but the Minima base section is designed to fit snugly on the blank, and all the standard methods I can think of will show at the edges of the seat. Any ideas on how I can reduce the seat ID of the base part and not have the result show as a wide, obvious seam around the seat? Thanks!

Pete Appel

Depending on the color match - graphite arbors - not the flex coat - or maybe the Pac Bay arbors they are a dark color . ??

Using longer arbors let it stick out the forward end and shape for a ramp

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2010 11:11AM by bill boettcher.

There’s not much you can do to make a Minima seat look good in a case like this. Also on a blank that small a Minima seat wouldn’t be very comfortable, and would be pretty heavy, they work better on large diameter blanks. Assuming you are talking about a spinning rod the best system for small diameter blanks like you have is a Tennessee handle, if you make it with a foam core carbon skin system it will be super light and very comfortable.

Tell your customer that the minima seats doesn't come in a size as small as the blank and there are other options that he should consider. Mike hit it on the head, if the minima would be available in a size that small it would probably be very uncomfortable to hold for any long periods of time.

If you're building a casting rod I have some reel seats available from Castaway and Batson with hole diameters as small as 8.5 mm.

Use the contact us tab on the Swampland website if I can answer any questions.

Lance

I'm kind of thinking out loud here but what about this. If you took piece of scrap blank with an ID that would fit the area of the blank where you want the reel seat placed. Epoxy it to the blank and order the properly sized Minima reel seat to fit. Make the scrap piece long enough to go under the threaded barrel also. I rebuild an old Shimano Crucial casting rod with an exposed trigger that was shimmed in a similar manner.

Lance bought up a good point also. I don't like Minimas for blanks where I need less than a 0.50" reel seat. They get uncomfortable for me below that.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2010 01:42PM by Scott Armstrong.

I built a coupleof spincasters for my pastors grand kids not too long ago with minima casting seats. the blanks were cut from 5'6" to 4'. the blank OT was a lot smaller than the smallest minima ID. I used a tape arbor to fill up thegap and then filled up the remaining trigger area with epoxy. I had to let the rod dry resting at 40degrees so that the epoxy would set level with the trigger.

I build ultralight kokanee and lake trout trolling rods for use with downriggers out of fly blanks. To add a little color and a custom look i use the 15.5 mm minimas and make acrylic "reel seats" obviously this adds a little weight but for what I'm doing that's fine. Perhaps You can do he same type of thing with a scrap piece of blank like already mentioned or acrylic or wood

You know what I was just looking through my rod rack and I had completely forgotten to mention in my last post that I built up one rod by doing a tiger wrap under where he minima seat goes. After the bottom layer of thread a few coats of finish then the top thread and finish you can add some diameter which may get you to where you need to be to use the smallest minima available

Thanks for the input, folks! Mike, Scott and Lance raise a very valid point, one which I will discuss with the customer. It's a spinning rod for light drop shotting (6#, 1/4 oz.). Scott, I finally came up with the same answer you did - use a blank piece, sized to fit, under the entire seat. One advantage it would have would be to increase the blank OD at the grip point, which might help the comfort level some, although I agree that long term comfort might be an issue even so. I'll fly the Tennessee handle past him - since he's looking for the lightest overall build he can get, that would probably be lighter than the Minima, especially in a split configuration. I haven't done any of the carbon-skinned grips yet, so I'm not real comfortable with going that way on this build. Again, thanks for the ideas!

Instead of the blank you could also ues an arbor or cork

They can also be painted

Bill - willierods.com