I've been asked to help build a center pin rod. My friend showed me some photos of centerpin reels attached directly over the grip (no reel seet) using slip rings.
Does anybody know where I can source this set up?
Also, any handy tips on center pins in general? We are using a med-fast 13' spey blank.

I simply use electrical tape and tape the reel to the cork grip. About 4 wraps on the front and 4 wraps on the back will hold the reel just fine.

Be safe

If you have access to a tube cutter you can make your own slip rings out of copper or brass pipe. You can finish/polish them however you chose. The tape that Roger suggested will also work fine.

If your looking for a pre-made grip, Mudhole has a 20" tennessee handle available. The 1.00" graphite slip rings are what customers typically request.

Yeah, I think he wants to step up from the current tape assembly!
Thanks for the mudhole tip.

They also sell 1.10 graphite rings ( pretty sure that's the dia) places like Jann's and mud hole. Better dia IMO. Tape or the silicone wrapping they sell for stopping leaking pipes works great under the slip rings so there's no chance of the reel coming off then slide the slip ring over top.

Rings work fine.
However, I much prefer the feel that you get from taping the reel to the grip. Virtually no build up or bulk under your fingers as you hold the rod and reel in your hands.

With rings, you always are clutching the rings which tend to bulk up in your hands. Personal feel.

Personally I hate rings.
They are always coming loose and as said need to be taped.
This is especially true as the rod gets older and the cork starts to deform from being under pressure.
I only use proper reel seats on my rods for this reason.
I typically use spey skeleton seats like Batsons RA8.5L2 SKELETON SERIES.
I then turn my own inserts.

Here are a few pics of the seats I'm talking about.

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This is a nickel silver Strubel skeleton seat on my Sage Z-Axis spey conversion.
The wood is from reelseatblanks.com

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And finally a pair of split grip Tennessee handles that a client requested.
I used synthetic cork under the reel seat area to reduce the cork crushing problem.
The rings and butt caps came from Mudhole.

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Hopefully this will give you some ideas.

Ho

Regards
Dave

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