Hello, this is my first post here. I am new to rod building ( well, I built one in 1988 - but have forgotten everything). I fish in Lower Laguna Madre, where the water is shallow, and throw light plastics, occasional popping corks and bottom rigs with one ounce weights.
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I am ordering 2 blanks from North Fork Composites, a MB 764-1, and a SJ 765-1. I am going to do spilt grips on these. The MB has a butt diameter of 0.62 and the 765 has a butt diameter of 0.63. I'm also going to order split grips from them. I get free shipping with another $35 dollars in the basket. The first question is the inner diameter of the grip. The NFCG010C01 has an ID of 6.5, and the NFCG012C01 has an ID of 9.5. How much of a difference in fit and looks will there be? Will the 6.5 fit better and look better than the 9.5?
Also, I need some suggestions on the reel seat. I am using low profile baitcasters on both, should I wait for the blanks, to measure the diameter where the reel seat will be located before picking one out?
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On a related note, I really like the grips on the St Croix extreme, it is sort of a tapered full grip that looks like a split grip. I haven't found anyone that makes these...does anyone know of a vendor?
Thanks for any insights, I'll probably be back with more questions as the projects move forward

Roger,

With the grip fit, the ID will need to be reamed out to fit the blanks. Neither of them will just slide right on out of the package so the fit is what you make it.

For the reel seats, if you plan on using exposed blank seats then wait until you know where you will be placing them and measure the blank and order as the exposed rod seats are ID specific. If you plan on using a seat with an insert or a traditional full body then don't worry about rod OD as they will need to have arbors most likely.

I do not know of a place that sells the St Croix grips. The NFC soft carbon has a similar shape but not exactly. If I were to try and mimic that style grip I would build a traditional split and heat shrink tube over the whole butt section. That looks to be what St Croix did.

Addition:

The American tackle G2 carbon full length grips are very similar to the St Croix I think. Check them out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2021 02:50PM by Aaron Petersen.

Thank you, that helps, and gives me a good a place to start

X2 looks like AT Carbon grips on the St Croix. You have to ream them out to fit the rod. Just do a little at a time and keep test fitting it. You want a snug fit. It looks like what you are saying is the grips and butt piece have a 6.5 mm and 9.5 mm holes and the blank has a .620" and .630" diameter or a little more than a half an inch. 1" = 25.4 mm / .620" = 15.748 mm and .630" = 16 mm. You will need to ream. The area where the reel seat and grip will be most likely 12 mm to 14 mm in diameter. Once you get the blank you will need to measure the diameter where you are mounting the winding checks to get the appropriate size.

Thanks Lance