With the reel seat and blank combination I am ordering, there will be a gap between the reel seat and the blank. I plan to use two masking tape arbors to level the reel seat and have a relatively snug fit.
From what I have read on other entries on this forum, one should only apply Epoxy on the arbors themselves and not between the gaps.
Is that correct?

Would this product suffuce for the job in hand - Flexcoat Rodbuilders Epoxy Glue - or should I look to get paste instead?
Should I use more than two arbors - two on the outer portions of the reel seat and one in the middle?

Thanks and regards
Dave
South Africa

Putting a gob of epoxy in the space between the arbors only adds weight, not adhesive strength. But do coat the sides of the arbors in order to help protect from water intrusion into the tape.

...........

Thanks Tom - sound advice. And the Epoxy mentioned - is that suitable for the job ?

Yes, it's more than adequate.

.........

Dave,
There is always a gap between seat and blank. Best not to use tape - but a rigid foam arbor. You are risking that the tape will degrade over time and the seat will become loose.
What seat are you using? The inside diameter??
herb

I have done tape arbors
But
if it takes 10 turns of 1/4" tape to make the arbor I go with a foam arbor
i do use several tape arbors Prep the blank and inside of the seat
And yes glue all of it it never had one come loose

It will be lighter with a foam arbor

Bill - willierods.com

The blank is a MHX 9' 9wt 4 piece with a butt dia of .43. Looking to get a REC RSLL reel seat. I cant seem to find the I D on the net.
The only dia mentioned is.740 on the seat and i am assuming thats the outside diameter. Never considered any other arbor besides tape.
Thanks

call them But get an arbor for it
If you don't use it stick it in your stash IMHO

Bill - willierods.com

So you would epoxy the arbor to the blank first and later the reel seat to the arbor? This is my first build, hence all the questions and uncertainty.

It's easier to ream the arbors to the blank and adhere them, and then put the seat over them.

The brick/foam type arbors are generally sized to fit the nylon graphite seats in sizes 16, 17, 18, 20, etc., mm. So you may have to turn/sand the outside to fit the ID of your seat. Or, bore/ream the seat to fit the arbors. I'd do which ever you find easier.

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

Hello Dave,

I'm an amateur as well and used polyurethane foam arbors for the first time a few weeks ago. With the help of the gentlemen on this forum it turned out great and was not as difficult as I thought. (See my thread on reaming foam arbors a few pages back.) I used the arbors on a 5wt fly rod blank set up for light/ultralight spinning and could noticeably feel a difference in weight compared to using tape.

-chad



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2013 05:03PM by Chad Barlongo.

I prep the inside of the seat glue the arbor in it When dry ( carefully ) ream to fit the blank They do sand VERY fast So check often
Less adhesive and less weight
I also use Rod Bond very thine coat
And prep the area where the seat will lay

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2013 05:04PM by bill boettcher.

Dave,
I use the REC RSLL seat often. The Flex Coat #16X3 arbor fits perfectly. You may have to spiral wrap some Size D thread to make the fit snug.
Herb

I do it like Bill: glue the arbor into the seat, then ream to fit the blank.
very sound advice he gives: be careful because the arbors ream really fast.

_______________________________________________
If I'm not going to catch anything, then I'd rather not catch anything on flies.

Prostaff Rodhouse
[www.rodhouse.fr]

Foam arbors give you the lightest result but if for some reason you have trouble with them, you can use drywall mesh tape. It's superior to masking tape in that the mesh permits connection of the reel seat to the blank. There is more epoxy used so if weight is critical for you, best to use the arbors if you can.

Terry

I've used the foam arbors too since my first fly rod builds. I found them pretty straight forward except I ruined my very first one cause I didn't realize how rigid they are. Did have it reamed quite enough and tried to force it the rest of the way. :) Ended up cracking the arbor. Luckily I'd bought a 3 pack.

Josh