Hi all,

I would like to order a couple of these Fuji split-grip handle kits from Mudhole.
[www.mudhole.com]

Looking at the butt section of the grip, is the composite butt cap separate from the grip, such that you glue the the grip on first and then the butt cap?
Or is the composite cap actually part of the grip?

Secondly, do you know if these kits comes with a graphite arbor (shim), or do these need to be bought separately?

Thanks

Dale

Hobart, TAS
Australia

Hi Dale,
Ray Balmforth has been using those reelseats and there is a trick to getting it right. I think he was using the full length version and not the split. If he doesn't respond then send him an email.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

The composite cork material is a part of the butt end section. There is no reel seat arbor with the kit. Thaks for inquiring about our products.

Bob McKamey
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
bobm@mudhole.com

Thanks Bob.

The next part of my question is - Do you ream out that rear grip section and slide it down the blank from the tip end, or do you fit it onto the blank from the butt end?

If there is no butt cap in the traditional sense, how do you cover up the hole after you have reamed it out?

(Of course I might be on the wrong track here)

Thanks

Dale
Hobart, TAS
Australia

Fit it from the but end, with short fighting butts you do not experience much taper in the short amount of blank that it is on, so fitting it from the butt end and gluing it on with no hole is no big deal, however it is a bit of a pain reaming it out since you have to use the tip of your reamer/file. I try to very carefully get the hole as close as possible with a drill bit in a drill press with this particular style, then I fine tune it with a rattail file.

Thanks Zachary.

Dale
It may help as well, if you drill out the butt cap on a drill press using a Forstner type drill bit. That bit has a perfectly flat bottom, not a taper on the bit thus eliminating a lot of extra cleanout in the bottom. I set my stop on the drill press so the bit stops at the composite cork.

Another advantage is since you are drilling in a cap with a hole already in it the forstner stays very true on the cut.

Hope this helps

Tom
Tom's Custom Rods and Repair