I am a newbie here and have a question regarding your tutorial above.  You said you used a 12.5 real seat reamed to fit the blank.  I did some research and found that the blank you used was sized at .605 at the butt which I think is just over 15.  I realize that the diameter is smaller at the final location of the seat, but was the dia. that much smaller?  I am fixin' to build on a 7' St. Croix SC1 crankbait with a butt dia. of .6 which I believe is 15.24.  I measured a St. Croix production rod built on that blank and the dia. of the blank near the foregrip on an unfinished section of the blank was approx. 14.95 so I ordered a seat sized at 15.  Am I a little too big here?  The guys at Mudhole said they would measure the blank at the location I specified for a correct fit as they didn't recomend reaming the seat even though I don't see it being that big a deal as long as the seat is not too small.  I guess what I'm getting at, is on average if you don't already have the blank in hand, how much smaller would you order the seat for a custom reamed fit?  On another note, what about the rubber winding checks?  Will they stretch slighty if orderd a little too small?  Thanks for any help for the "aspiring builder".

TJ

BORDERBASSER,

First off Welcome To The Forum!

Second off may I recommend this book.....

Rod-Building Guide (Written by Tom Kirkman, published by Amato Publications).

I am a newbie here and have a question regarding your tutorial above.  You said you used a 12.5 real seat reamed to fit the blank.  I did some research and found that the blank you used was sized at .605 at the butt which I think is just over 15.  I realize that the diameter is smaller at the final location of the seat, but was the dia. that much smaller?

Actually that .605 is at the extreme end of the butt. The section I measured was at about 8" up from the butt edge. I actually needed about a 12.75 but the ECS seats are only graduated in .5 increments, and the next size was a 13.0.

I am fixin' to build on a 7' St. Croix SC1 crankbait with a butt dia. of .6 which I believe is 15.24.  I measured a St. Croix production rod built on that blank and the dia. of the blank near the foregrip on an unfinished section of the blank was approx. 14.95 so I ordered a seat sized at 15.  Am I a little too big here?  The guys at Mudhole said they would measure the blank at the location I specified for a correct fit as they didn't recomend reaming the seat even though I don't see it being that big a deal as long as the seat is not too small. I guess what I'm getting at, is on average if you don't already have the blank in hand, how much smaller would you order the seat for a custom reamed fit?

When I order my components from my distributor, I always ask for them to measure the diameter of the blank at a given distance and try to get the seat size to fit at least 1" from my desired placement point then if I have to ream it, it isn't all that much to get a good tight fit. Then I will also order a seat in each of the sizes above and below that measurement, but that is how I keep my stock of reel seats up.

On another note, what about the rubber winding checks?  Will they stretch slighty if orderd a little too small?

Wind checks do stretch a little but in my shop I have about 6 different sizes I can goto. You can always ask the good folks where you order your components from to fit the proper wind check for you.

Hope this helps.

Good luck on your rod project...

Tight Wraps!  

 

If you are building one rod or don't have a need to "stock" different size reel seats, the best way is to have them measure it for you when you buy the blank. You just tell them how many inches up the blank you want the handle to fit and they'll check your blank and send the right one. (I would add 1/2" - 1" just to be sure they don't send one a hair too big)

Each rod tapers differently, some are fairly level in the butt section and will use a seat that is only a little smaller than the butt OD and some taper pretty steep so they take a MUCH smaller seat.

You should be ok since you asked them to check it for you.

Sometimes (most times) you have to ream a little to get a good seal/fit. When I build a rod, I plan where the seat goes and then ream to fit. If you use the mud hole theory, you'd have to adjust your handle specs to accomodate the seat that is closest to where you want it. That isn't custom in my book.

ReelMech and Flechero are way more experienced than me at this and their advise to me has been good!! ;D I took a slightly different path when putting together my first few rods. I am sure one of the parts places can and will measure for you. I did not feel comfortable with that and one thing I did was to get my blank first. That way I could make measurements myself. I measured a lot of different possible setups/reelseat locations/handle lengths ..... : Once I finally decided how my handle was going to be built and where my reel seat was going I new the exact diameters and I ordered the rest of the components. This is not fast. And I am not ever going to make money at this pace. but I don't plan to go into business and taking my time does not bother me. ;D

This may cost you a little more in shipping charges if you purchase everything from one place. Although in my case I bought the blanks at one place and components at another so shipping was shipping. I am very happy with the way my rods are turning out. Thanks again ReelMech and Flechero!  And no they are not all finished yet : I am not slow, just casual. ;D ;D

Thanks guys for the help guys.  Like I said above, I ordered a 15mm seat but asked that the guys at mudhole size it before shipping to make sure it is right.  If they do send the 15, I think it may be just slightly too large but I think just one or two wraps of drywall tape or masking tape on each end will do the trick.  Thanks for the warm welcome reelmech!  Glad to be here, and get ready 'cause I'm sure the questions will be rolling in.  By the way justtrying, I talked to Andy today and ordered some Threadmaster.  He was a great guy to talk to and really took the time to answer a lot of "newbie" questions.  Next time I roll through Bandera I'd like to try to stop by and meet him in person.  Thanks again yall!

TJ

If they do send the 15, I think it may be just slightly too large but I think just one or two wraps of drywall tape or masking tape on each end will do the trick.  

Borderbasser,

I think we are talking different seats... ReelMech and I both advised you based on using an exposed blank casting seat, where the tight fit is critical.  If you are using a non blank exposed or a spinning seat then you don't have to have that kind of fit.  You can use the drywall tape or make some arbors.

Hope that made sense.

Keith

Hmmm.... :-?  I too was talking about an exposed seat.  I see what you are saying though.  You obviously don't want a small gap around the blank at the exposed seat area.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I get.  Maybe....no hopefully I won't have to order a smaller one.  I guess I can shorten the handle a bit and see how that works out too :-[  Mudhole did say they would size it to fit at 10" from the butt as per my request but I think maybe 9" would be satisfactory.  It might make it a little more tip heavy, but on a cranking rod that might help on the casting distance a little.  Guess we'll see here in a few!  Thanks for shedding a little light on that for me.

TJ