I'm looking at using a Fugi VSS 16-15 reel seat on my PB701LXF build. I've never installed this reel seat and associated grip before. Are there any nuisances I need to be aware of for this installation of this reel seat and grip? I will probably use the Winn AR VSS GRIP, KSKSS, and Winn AR WTC foregrip.

Appreciate any assistance

Ron Beloff

Ron,
Pre test-fit the grip to the seat before bonding to the blank. While many may be satisfied with the fit, I found the grip required a little “massaging” to suit my liking; and I was using a Fuji brand cork grip. Of course, there is not much one can massage with a Winn Grip.

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

Glue a foam arbor into the reel seat, and let cure. Ream the grip to fit the blank, then ream the reel seat to fit the blank. Glue the reel seat and grip together and let cure. Then glue the grip and reel seat as a unit to the blank, may need to fine tune the fit with a little more reaming if necessary.
Norm

Thanks all. After gluing the grip to the reel seat, do I need to wrap tape around them before letting them cure overnight?

After gluing the handle and seat together, clean up any residual epoxy oozing from the seams. You can use a tie wrap (I use the removable type) to get the seams flush, and tight. Any residual epoxy seepage won’t adhere well to the the plastic tie wrap. If you use tape any epoxy seepage will glue the tape to the grip and/or seat, and it’s hard to remove. If you want to use tape then wrap first with Saran Wrap or wax paper. In my experience, the VSS Winn grip usually fits very well to the seat so you probably will not need to use anything to hold the grip and seat tightly together. I used the VSS 17 Winn grip quite a bit when they first came out. Very comfortable, but they do wear out. These days I use the Fuji IPS seat with the NFC soft touch carbon fiber IPS grip. Really like it a lot, quite comfortable, looks good, and bulletproof. You can use the KSKSS hidden thread hood with the IPS seat. The American Tackle 3K matte CF fore grip sleeve is a perfect match for the NFC 1K CF IPS grip, and the Fuji CTC Carbon thread sleeve in matte twill is a perfect match for the NFC 3K grip.
Norm

Thanks for all the help. Since this will be my Christmas" gift, I won't be starting it until New Years day. I like having all the parts and techniques worked out before I start any rod project. I also have 2 rods that need new grips on them and some saltwater rod grips that need some shrink wrap on them.

Thanks again to all...

Thanks for all the help. Since this will be my Christmas" gift, I won't be starting it until New Years day. I like having all the parts and techniques worked out before I start any rod project. I also have 2 rods that need new grips on them and some saltwater rod grips that need some shrink wrap on them.

Thanks again to all...

Norman Miller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After gluing the handle and seat together, clean
> up any residual epoxy oozing from the seams. You
> can use a tie wrap (I use the removable type) to
> get the seams flush, and tight. Any residual epoxy
> seepage won’t adhere well to the the plastic
> tie wrap. If you use tape any epoxy seepage will
> glue the tape to the grip and/or seat, and it’s
> hard to remove. If you want to use tape then wrap
> first with Saran Wrap or wax paper. In my
> experience, the VSS Winn grip usually fits very
> well to the seat so you probably will not need to
> use anything to hold the grip and seat tightly
> together. I used the VSS 17 Winn grip quite a bit
> when they first came out. Very comfortable, but
> they do wear out. These days I use the Fuji IPS
> seat with the NFC soft touch carbon fiber IPS
> grip. Really like it a lot, quite comfortable,
> looks good, and bulletproof. You can use the
> KSKSS hidden thread hood with the IPS seat. The
> American Tackle 3K matte CF fore grip sleeve is a
> perfect match for the NFC 1K CF IPS grip, and the
> Fuji CTC Carbon thread sleeve in matte twill is a
> perfect match for the NFC 3K grip.
> Norm

Norm

I dry fitted the grip to the reel seat. It does not marry up 100% at the tail part of the reel seat - the part that is upswept. Is this a normal fit for the Winn AR VSS GRIP? Do the CFX or cork VSS grips fit any better?

Thanks

Ron B

Doesn’t sound like a normal fit for the VSS seat with the Winn grip. If you slip a rubber band length wise around the front of the reel seat to the butt end of the the grip, the added tension might make the fit closer. You can send me an email with a picture of your problem, maybe I can give you some more specific advice. I will be more than happy to help. I have found that the IPS seat gives a better and more consistent fit to its grips than does the VSS seats to their grips. With that said, I have not had many problems with fitting to the VSS 17 seat to the Winn grip, NFC CF grip, or a Fuji cork grip. CFX does not make a grip for the VSS reel seats, but NFC does make a CFX-like CF grip for the various VSS seat sizes, they also make one for the IPS seat. NFC also makes soft touch CF grips for the IPS seat, and the VSS16, but not for the VSS16/15, or 17. The size 16 VSS has an ID of about 13 mm, so it may or may not fit your blank.
Norm