Any one out there making mortised fly rod reel seat? I am looking to start making the myself. I've made a few the hard way. I set up my indexing fixture in the milling machine and mill them out with end mill and went back and sanded out the ridges. Work great, but too hard and slow. I am making a fixture for my router table to route them out, but I can't find a bit without having one make.

Can someone poin me to a router bit supplier that would have this type bit without being special made?

Try looking at Lee Valley Tools, they have a good selection of hard to find bits. There is also a good selection of other tools as well, good luck.

David,
If you are looking for a router bit to make rails, a fingernail bit is what you need. A modified bit will give you better results. The modification involves grinding the flat spots at the top and bottom of the cutting surface back at an angle. This will result in rails that align with the center of the reelseat insert. If you use an unmodified bit, the rails will be in line and not pointing to the center. Hope that makes sense.
Modified bits are sold by a reelseat maker out east.
Scott

Thanks Scott. Do you have a name of the company? I've look on the internet but found only one guy that has them. I've tried to contact him, but with no luck yet.

David

David,
Bob Venerri is the guy.
[venneris.com]
He is not quick on the email. Might want to try and call him.
Scott

This is the bit I use (Grizzly 1215).
[www.grizzly.com]

It isn't as perfect as the modified bit, but it is really close!

Walt Natzke
Ripon, CA

Thanks Walt. I don't know why I didn't think of Grizzly myself. I've used them a lot over the years.

David

That's the guy I've tried. I've not gotten a reply to my e-mail. I will try to phone him later. He also sells a cool mortising fixture to use on a router table.

David Cockerham
Elkin NC