Does anyone know of a "How To" to make a fiber carbon sleeve reel seat insert? I make foam core handles but would like to try making my own reel seat inserts.
John

JLS Custom Rods
Cassadaga, NY

This was covered in a RodMaker article a couple years ago (Make Your Own Carbon Fiber Tubing). Form the carbon skin over a silicon treated core (aluminum pipe, etc.) and then cut to desired length. If you want to shoulder it to hold the seat components, just make it a thicker (heavier skin or multiple layers of thin skin) and turn to size. You can shim the insert just like you would a reel seat to fit the blank.

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Can a rod blank be sandwiched between layers of carbon fiber? If so, how would you do this and maintain a round shape to the handle?

I don't understand the question - sandwiched between layers of carbon fiber. Anything you sleeve over the rod blank will take on the shape of the rod blank. If the blank is round, then the sleeve will be round.

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Carbonfiber is like working with fiberglass, they are both cloths soft till epoxy (or some sort of hard adhesive) is applied.

Strong wraps, calm seas
Derek

Tom
Been surching in article directory, but can't find. Do you know vol. & Iss.?
John

JLS Custom Rods
Cassadaga, NY

Volume 12 #4.

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Thank You

JLS Custom Rods
Cassadaga, NY

Tom,

sorry for the confusion. I want to form a Vibronics-type rod using a hollow tube handle, say 1.4 inches in diameter and 10 inches long, out of carbon fiber. The handle could be formed around a silicon treated pipe, as noted above.

To do this, l might layer the first carbon fiber around the pipe and then place a rod blank between that first layer and a second layer. If I did that, the rod blank would form a ridge above the first carbon fiber layer thatwas shaped around the pipe. Not comfortable.

Another approach might be to cut a longitudinal notch in the pipe used as the handle form, putting a carbon fiber sleeve over that pipe, putting the rod blank into the notch I cut (recessing the carbon fiber sleeve into the notch), and then applying a second carbon fiber sleeve over the first that assumes the overall shape of the pipe (round).

I am more than happy to experiment , but wanted to learn if others have effectively created a round Tennessee handle formed out of two layers of carbon fiber that sandwich a rod blank. Comfortable, light and sensitive is the goal.

Thanks
Rick

I thought Steve Gardner covered that is his article in Volume 10 #4. He used two sleeves, one on the outside and one on the inside, so yes, that would be a "sandwich" of fiber around the rod blank.

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That's an issue I need to get

Thanks, Tom

J.P. Timberlake's SBSS reel seat made with carbon fiber, a graphite split ring and graphite reel seat barrel is the only thing I will build. It was featured in Rodmaker a few years back. Once you learn the technique, it's a piece of cake. Never had more compliments or stares. No customer who tries it wants anything else.

Richard;
I would also suggest you read the second article on the Vibronics handle in Vol. 11 #2
Titled " The Hot Handle"

If I understand your questions correctly this is more of the design you are looking for.

That's correct - I adjusted his order to receive that one as it's closer to what he asked about in sleeving the handle. Still one of the better handle designs I've seen come down the pike.

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