OK, it is admittedly not 1-piece but the intention of the design was to make it appear so. I had previously fabricated a similar effect using machined olive wood, but the reel feet were exposed. I decided the only feasible way to completely cover the reel feet was to employ fabric, CF in this case, which gave me an opportunity to build my first foam-core / CF grip.
There are actually four, separate pieces of foam; the rear-grip / fixed hood section, the section under (over) the reel, the section covering the moveable hood, and the fore-grip / “nut” section. All were indexed to each other and to the .312in all-thread mandrel as well for shaping because I doubted the mandrel was perfectly straight. After shaping, the foam over the moveable hood must have rotated a bit, unnoticed, before skinning with the CF resulting in that section being a tad non-concentric = dang amateurs! Both ends are devoid of caps or winding checks allowing the ends of the weave to go all the way to the blank. The front "nut" section has a .5in wide white felt "bushing" to avoid scratching the blank.
Although possibly not the first to produce such, it is finished, rather unique, it works and may be the most comfortable spin grip possible short of additionally employing CAD CAM contouring. But with the weave not being perfectly straight and the one misaligned section, I decided to not waste anymore PG to make the finish perfect; that would be like putting perfume on a pig. At least from a prototype aspect it is a success.
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21712/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21711/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21710/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21709/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21708/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21707/title/mark-27s-olive-wood-grip/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21706/title/mark-27s-olive-wood-grip/cat/507

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Oops, sorry! I have a new computer and program and thought I was affording a direct link to the photo section as before. Being a computer infant, I do not know what to do. The photos are under "Grips, Handles and Reel Seats", "Mark's 1-Piece Seat / Grips" and "Mark's Olive Wood Grip".

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mark, that is fantastic, if I spin fished, I would want one!

Phil,
Your respected, veteran approval is much more than appreciated. I enjoyed the challenge and the outcome was acceptable albeit not perfect.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mark, I also thought you did a great job on the handles, both the CF and olive wood. I’m sure no one could afford one with the labor involved in making one. However, as with most things you will get better and faster at making them, and will work out the bugs until you do get it perfect. Take it fishing and see how it performs.
Norm

Norman,
Thank you for your comments as well. Actually, the olive wood handle was commissioned and thus paid for; I might have made as much as $2.00 / hour lol!. You are undoubtedly correct in that experience will expedite the process (practice makes perfect); I might be able to get $4.00 / hour lol! They are admittedly quite labor-intensive but wanted to see if it could be done nonetheless and it was basically a success. While rather unique in appearance, the real bonus is the comfort.
I am going to attempt linking the photos again; hope it works.
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21712/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21711/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21710/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21710/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21708/title/mark-27s-1-piece-seat-2fgrips/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21707/title/mark-27s-olive-wood-grip/cat/507
rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/21706/title/mark-27s-olive-wood-grip/cat/507

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I will try again.
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Ok, looks like you got it.
Norm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2021 02:13PM by Norman Miller.

Norman,
Thanks for trying to help a computer idiot like me but I actually figured it out on my own. I can't really blame people for laughing at my computer skills (or lack thereof) but I'm feeling pretty proud of myself right now lol!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Hi Mark,

Love your custom grip. I have a question, how do you trim off both ends? I don't have much success on closing both ends. After covering with the carbon sleeve, I ended up getting uneven ends, and sometime the sleeve just popup from the form core after the cut. Putting on a winding check or butt cap helps a little, but the gap is visible. Not perfect. I am using the Mudhole CFX Laminating Epoxy. I think it has to do with the epoxy that made the sleeve harden and difficult to cut it perfectly. I have tried hand saw, or sharp knife but nothing help. Do you apply the UB4 or top coat first before you cut it?

Thanks,

- Johnny

Johnny,
Thank you for your compliment and interest.
To achieve a “fabric down to the to blank” end, devoid of checks or caps, requires carefully manipulating the ends of the (CF) fabric. This needs to be addressed prior to the sleeve diameter being determined; these fabric sleeves will only expand and contract to a certain extent = try to use a sleeve as small in diameter as possible to cover the largest diameter yet allow it to compress to the smallest diameter. Soller Composites has a fairly good range of diameters. To be honest, I went past the prescribed compression capabilities of the fabric sleeve but it worked-out.
The fore-end is much easier than the concaved butt end. Simply use a zip-tie to START compressing the sleeve about .5in-1in from the end of the foam. Then I used a piece of safety wire looped twice around the fabric to constrict it to the PTFE covered mandrel; looping it twice eliminates the “gap” between the ends as the zip-tie produces. Trim off the end when the epoxy is set but not cured, say 75%.
The procedure for the concaved, butt end is similar, although a conically shaped piece of release ply (plastic sheeting would probably do) is inserted against the wet-out fabric to keep it insulated from sticking to the soft foam cord used to push the fabric into the recess, with a washer and nut on the mandrel to hold all in place. Again, the fabric was trimmed at approximately 75% cured. Neither end will be perfect and will require sanding, after FULLY cured, prior or post to the application of additional epoxy and/or PG.
I hope this explained it well enough.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I've built a couple CF grips and they can be tricky. Looks like there is allot of work involved in everything you did Mark and it looks great.

Hi Mark,

Your explanation is extremely helpful. Thank you so much!

- Johnny

Steve,
Thank you for your compliment as well; nothing that 40 hours over 3 weeks can’t accomplish (not including watching epoxy go-off). But it kept me out of trouble and from annoying the wife lol. A good amount of that time was devoted to just planning and figuring-out how to make it happen. The next one (if there ever will be one) would probably require less than half the build time, but still spread-out over quite a few days due to so many separate epoxy steps.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.