Hi Friends,

I got from a local company some PU foam plate - the guy pointed it's the same people use in the surf boards.
Pushing it with my thumb I see it's not rock solid (anyway masking tape is not rigid at all !) and I would like to try it instead the classic masking tape bushings.
As it's not that easy to rebuilid a reel seat gluing process I would like to ask you:
- Give a try on the "surf board" PU foam complete bushing (I will need to turn - lathe -it in a cilinder)?
- Follow the classic recipe of masking tape bushings?
- Any other thing I can try?

All the best for you!

Rogerio

Seems like a lot of work to save less than $1. That's what a pair of graphite arbors normally cost. I like that a lot of members try and find new and creative ways to save money or refine a process, but this seems like you may trying to re-invent the penny.
"just my opinion",
Good Luck

Rogerio,
I imagaine that this foam is very similar to the foam arbors sold by Flex Coat and some other companies.
I am sure, that if you want to put in the time, that the foam would work just fine to support a reel seat.

How does the texture, and density of this foam compare to either the Fuji, or Flex coat arbors.
Both of these are excellent products and folks have essentially 0 problems to support a reel seat with either of these products.

Take care
Roger

.02 = ANYTHING is better by far than masking tape bushings.

I use mesh Drywall tape bushings

Jeff - thanks I will consider the input - unfortunatelly outside USA things are not that available.
Roger - thanks I will try to create a "prototype" and see the results.
Ken - thanks for the feedback
Barry - thanks for the feedback

Rogerio--- I never thought of your having an availability problem..."duh". Now I understand why your trying to do what your trying to do. Anything is better than masking tape. Good luck with your tests.
Jeff

I think the drywall tape hollds up much better than masking tape. How ever I like the foam arbors the best. although, I don`t know the availibility to you.

Let us know your results even though we don`t have a lot of surf board dealers in North central Ohio.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

OOOOPS, double post

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2010 07:26AM by Bill Eshelman.

Bill,

By the FC video I saw their bushings cover almost all the reel seat. The graphite bushings are sold in smaller versions (length).
How do you use it? Connected or spaced? Wich space size?
Thanks!
Rogerio

Jeff,

Don't worry! I apreciate your input anyway.

Regards,

Rogerio

IF I use tape I use 1/4" One in the middle and one near each end of the seat. BUT ONLY if there are about 6-8 turns of tape. Any more and I go an arbor. With a good prep of the blank and seat. this way the glue adhers the seat and the blank.

Bill - willierods.com

IF I use tape I use 1/4" One in the middle and one near each end of the seat. BUT ONLY if there are about 6-8 turns of tape. Any more and I go an arbor. With a good prep of the blank and seat. this way the glue adheres the seat to the blank.

OOPS

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2010 09:33AM by bill boettcher.

Actually, I have to respectfully disagree on the use of masking tape for bushings. If you use masking tape with a bot of a gap between rows of tape, and then use epoxy to fill the gap, there is really nothing at all wrong with the use of tape.

As long as a tape bushing is made this way, I have never seen one fail or cause any issues of any kind.

Take care
Roger

Just do not wrap the tape on the blank completely. Then the seat will stick to the tape - BUT - the tape will loosen from the blank.

Bill - willierods.com

The size depends on the reel seat. 16 mm 17 mm 18 mm ? Depends on the rod you build. They go in as one piece and you first epoxy the arbor to the seat, making sure it sits in the center where the reel feet go. After epoxy dries just ream the arbor to fit the blank. It is extremely easy to ream and much faster.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

When I use the graphite arbors, I always place them on the blank, so they will be 1/8" inside each end of the reel seat. I epoxy them to the blank, then coat them with epoxy "tops and sides"... then before the reel seat goes on, Coat the inside of each end with epoxy. "always scuff the inside of the reel seat where the arbors will sit. Then just slide down over the arbors. Usually let mine run on the dryer for an hour or so to let the epoxy spread equally around the arbors, blank & reel seat making good coverage everywhere. Just my way of doing it.
Jeff