I plan on making a spinning rod handle using the CFX foam core material, shaping it, putting a carbon skin on it, and attaching the reel with the slip rings.

Of flex coat white arbors, graphite colored foam arbors, and the CFX foam material, CFX is the lightest quite a bit. Is it strong enough to be used with a Tennessee handle slip ring attachment method for the spinning reel? If not, I can switch to one of the denser foams or I could do a couple poker chips under the reel foot for extra support if needed.

Please let me know if you think the CFX foam material is strong enough to not deform or if I should go back to the drawing board.

Thanks!

My 130 lb wife can stand on a graphite skinned grip without blowing it up, the graphite is in essence paint and not really structurally relevant.

Dean,
There is a variety of different foam core densities available for your application, ie a Tennessee handle. Even the lightest (3lb / cu ft) will suffice. The aspect needed to be addressed is the grip ability of the rings to the handle and feet of the reel. With its smooth, hard surface, typical CF skinned foam cores do not possess the same grip action for the rings as with cork. Nonetheless, it can be accomplished. First and foremost, the sliding rings need to be TAPERED to accommodate the taper of the blank AND the taper of the reel feet; straight-cut rings will not cut-it. The biggest complaint with the slip rings of Tennessee handles is that they loosen their grip on the reel. Such is definitely not the case when attention is given to the proper taper of the rings.
I am a proponent of Tennessee handles for my UL builds simply because they are light, simple, adjustable, and secure (if performed properly). What other reel seat allows position adjustability like a TH?

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

A minimum of 6lb density foam is generally rigid enough to withstand about anything you'd throw at it in a fishing situation, including the pressure of foot rings on a TN handle. If you use the CFX from core you could always use a slightly thicker carbon skin to help when used as a TN handle.

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