Just ordered my first Fuji VSSM spinning seats, with both cork and EVA matching fore grips, as this will be built up-locking.

Any tips on assembly? Would you install the fore grip on the seat first and then ream and fit the whole works to the blank, or first the seat then the fore grip. Also, how much do you glue all the edges of the fore grip to the seat?

Thanks,

Marc

I like to assemble the grip to the seat first. Insert a foam arbor in the reel seat at the same time. When you are ready to mount it to the blank, you just drill and ream like you normally would.

Marc,
Use the system that works for you.
I do all of my reel seats the same. I ream the arbor, to fit the blank.
I insure that the fore grip has been reamed to fit the blank.
I insure that the rear grip has been reamed to fit the blank.

Then, I mix up a batch of 30 minute epoxy. I coat the blank, the inside of the rear grip and slip it in place.
Then, I coat the inside and outside of the arbor and slip it in place. Then I coat the inside of the reel seat and slip it in place. Then I coat the inside of the fore grip and slip it in place.
I put a clamp on the assembly. Then, I use alcohol to clean up any epoxy residue before the epoxy has had a chance to set up.

Let dry and I am ready to move on to the rest of the rod.

But each person has methods that work best for them.

Good luck
Roger

Marc,
I think you'll find it easiest on that VSS reel seat to glue the grip to the seat first. With the cut out and the grip having to fit that contour, it would be difficult to get a smooth match up especially if your bore or ream is not spot-on concentric. Fit em together by hand when you get it and you'll see what I mean. There's no room whatsoever to be off by even a smidgeon. I worked mine by gluing the grip to the seat and making a smooth fit by wrapping a piece of tape around the junction of the grip and the seat to hold it while it dried - glued in an arbor and reamed em all out at the same time. Worked good.

I glue everything together before fitting to the blank. The factory rods I've disassembled didn't have the edges glued to the seat and had held up OK so I don't stress out about too much the hardest part is getting everything together without glue oozing out. The black paste epoxy from Mudhole is great as it's similar in colour to the reel seat and eva the excess easily wipes off..

How ever you do it

Dry fit several times to make sure all fit well

Bill - willierods.com