Has anyone used high density Polypropylene to form rings under a reel?
I am planning to use black EVA with inlays for the majority of the handle, but thought 1.25" circles cut from a black cutting board would keep the EVA from crushing.

Thanks in advance.

Doug

you may have a hard time getting the Polypropylene to glue to anything as it is as it is pretty glue resistant ( usually joined by heating) so I would check to make sure before committing to using it in the handle. But outside of that it would work fine.

It'a s bit heavy and not as rigid as some other materials you could use in the same area. Hard plastic, poker chips, etc., might be a better choice.

..................

Doug,
Due to the gluing issue, a better solution would be to take a block of the material that you want to use under the reel and place it on a lathe. Then, use the reel to form a close fitting cylinder that perfectly fits the rod blank and is sized to match the skeletal reel seat.
That way, you really don't necessarily care if you even use any glue to hold the material in place. The front and rear reel seat will be solidly glued. If the center section happens to rotate a bit, it is not a big deal.

Roger

Roger

How is the reel involved in forming a close fitting cyhlinder?

How is a close fitting cylinder related to center of guide foot hard shim placement?

How is the term "skeletal reel seat" related to a Tennesse Handle.

Have you ever built a Tennessee Handle for a fishing rod using the Rodmaker Magazine/Richard Forhan texhniques?

If so please post a picture of the handle you are describing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2012 09:30AM by Tom Kirkman.

Bill,
Sorry, I missed the title of the post. I thought that he was only making the center portion of a reel seat that would normally be fit between the front and rear skeletal reel seat pieces.

Roger

Thank you for the thoughtful responses.
I will look for some hard plastic.

Doug

Try a thin ring sanded with some 220 paper Glue it to a cork ring - with rod bond - and see overnight how it is

Bill - willierods.com

Thank you Roger - this topic is currently on the plate of many custom rodbuilders - including me!

Doug a Poker Chip or a 1/8 inch thick wooden hardwood Dollar Shape available at Hobby Lobby is preferred. Weigh the material used. Be picky when selecting the shim material. The new Poker Chips from Wallmart are entirely to heavy and do not turn well. Do you have a digital scale - you will be surprised when you weigh stuff - EVA, Burl Caps, Ruberized Caps and Cork have different properties.

Many top professional anglers are quite particular about the construction of the handle. OD, length, shape and materials utilized are important. Those who use the Forhan design are insistant that no changes be made. Richard sent me one of his handles used by many top anglers to use as a pattern. Unhide your email address or send me an email and I will forward the information to you.

In hand comfort, weight and "sensitivity - ability to transmit vibrations from blank to hand are paramount - durability for numerous reel changes enter the equation.

You will find that cork and hard shims provide the advantages required by those who have used the Tennessee handle for a long time.

Recent use of skinned foam or tubular handles is also in use. - see Vibronics Handles by Steve Gardner for information.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2012 10:09AM by Bill Stevens.

Thanks Bill,

Email unhidden.

Doug

I got an email with a drawing for
Richard Forhan's Tennessee handle, which was a real help.

I would like to thank Richard Forhan for sharing his ideas with other custom rodbuilders.

Actually, I tip my hat to the entire community.
Helpful and a class act.
Something to be proud associating with.

Doug



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2012 01:08PM by Doug Lockwood.