As common as size 16 standard spinning seats are, I am finding that the arbors for them generally have a really loose fit - more than I am comfortable with. When I go to size 17 seats the arbors are nice and snug.

Working primarily with Fuji DPSM seats and Flex Coat or Batson arbors.

Has anyone found arbors that have a nice snug fit with the Fuji DPSM size 16 seats?

Thanks!
Marc

Often they are undersized on purpose, thinking that the builder will not do a perfect job of mounting them, thus leaving room for error. Being precise, you might as well go on with the #17 arbors.

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

Marc,
The solution is really really simple.

I assume that you are using the white poly arbors.

Although I used to use the Fuji arbors when they first came out, I stopped using them after the white arbors came out because the white arbors were so much easier to work with.

But, as I said, the solution is simple. Just purchase size 17 or 18 arbors, depending on what you need, and then turn down the size 17 arbors to be a perfect fit for your size 16 reel seats.

I just use a small round file that is just a touch bigger than the 1/4 inch hole that are in the arbors. I chuck the file into a drill and then screw the arbor onto the file.

I turn on my belt sander and then with the drill turning in the opposite direction from the movement of the sandpaper on the belt sander, just tough the spinning arbor to the moving sanding belt to reduce the arbor as needed. I generally use about 180 grit paper which quickly reduces the arbor to the correct size. Frequently check the size of the arbor to reduce the arbor and to avoid sanding off too much

The other thing that you can so is to just taper one end of the arbor enough to get it started into the reel seat, and then with a rod on the inside of the foam arbor, just insert the larger arbor into the reel seat and start to turn it. Normally, the end of the reel seat is such that the rotation of the arbor against the end of the seat will cut through the foam to get it to the correct size. But, most of the time, I use the spinning arbor against a sanding belt to take care of the job very quickly.

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If you don't have a belt sander, you can always pick up one of these, along with some extra sanding belts for your shop:

[www.harborfreight.com]

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But the other thing that you can do, is to just put a piece of 120 grit sand paper on the bench, and use tape to tape down the edges of the paper. Then, with the arbor chucked onto the end of a rod held in the drill, just hold the spinning arbor against the sand paper on the bench to reduce the size of the oversized arbor. You will be done in a flash. Have a few spares. That way, if you happen to go to far, you can put it in the back up pile and start again with another arbor.

Best wishes

1 1/2 turns of masking tape in 2 spots on the arbor and it'll fit snug.
Then you can accidentally overream it when installing it, and put a couple of turns of masking tape on the blank. LMAO defeats the purpose of using them? haha

Or use a turn or two of dry wall tape to snug it up. The mesh of the dry wall tapes gives great adherence and light weight.
Norm

One thread wrap with each turn spaced 1/4 inch apart works perfectly. I just went through your exact dilemma

But if you do nothing, and use a thick paste epoxy like rod bond, it will work fine too. Fit . one up and you;ll see.

I second Norm's use of dry wall tape when you can't get a foam arbor to fit exactly the way you seek.

Ray Zarychta
Glastonbury, CT