I've known about these for some time now, but have never used them. I had a friend give me a few and they look intriguing. Has anyone used these and what were your observations? The manufacturer isn't listed as a sponsor, but I'm sure you know who I'm talking about.

Thanks!

Dave Sytsma

They work fine and due to their self adjusting design make reaming or fitting arbors a non-requirement. Use a gel-type epoxy with them, however.

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Tom,

I found a manufacturer's video on YouTube. They were using a liquid epoxy and standing the rod vertically to supposedly allow the glue to migrate to fill the arbors during the drying process. I've got both types of epoxy but the gel isn't going to flow like they are recommending. Would you still use the gel? Thanks!

Dave

I also believe liquid epoxy with a long set time is required. No 5 min. stuff.

The gel can be packed into the voids in the arbor - it won't run out. Stays where you put it.

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I have used them. Work fairly well. Had some issues with them not centering when you get to the upper end of their recommended blank size. Used them with both a gel epoxy and liquid either way worked fine. I preferred the liquid. With liquid you can handle everything dry.

Slide the first arbor in place on the blank. I found it easier to drop the reel seat onto the arbor with a bit of epoxy on the outside of the arbor as a lube. Just a drop wiped around the outside was enough. Drop the reelseat on pour as much epoxy as you want down the seat. Rotate the rod a few times to get epoxy flowing down the whole interior perimeter of the seat. Slide your next arbor inside the seat. I usually put the forward arbor about 1/2" from the end of the seat. Pour in epoxy again rotate the rod a few times to get a even fill. I never tried to completely fill the seat with epoxy. Intentionally left a void for the next step.

I like to do things in steps I have the time not building for sale. So I would glue the seat first. Then do the fore grip. For that I used a nice thick paste type epoxy to prevent it from flowing. I would coat the blank well but not go crazy. Very light layer of epoxy of the edge of the reelseat.Slide the grip on turning as I went. Once I got to the seat any excess epoxy gets pushed into the void in front of the arbor. Typically I have absolutely no cleanup needed.

I have gone back to using foam arbors. They don't take much to ream out. I also feel better with the larger glue surface. I can also always get them.When I first started using the omni arbor and has deciding how much I liked or did'nt like them I could not get them consistently.

Don't think the omni arbor does anything better just goes about it different.

Thanks for all the information, guys. I'll give them a try this afternoon and we'll see how it goes.

Dave

Here's the video, you make the call on the adhesive. [www.youtube.com]

Thanks, Lynn. That's the video I was referring to when I replied to Tom. The only epoxies I use are Rod Bond and lately, ProGlu.

You can use the Rod Bond and simply turn the arbors around so they capture the epoxy on the way down. From there it won't run out of the arbor. It stays where you put it.

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Tom,

Sounds like a good plan.

Dave