Another thing you can do...

If the graphite arbors are a tad too small in diameter, you can use vinyl electrical tape to fill the remaining gap between the arbor and reel seat. As we all know, vinyl will outlast most everything in existence. 

On 7/1/2020 at 2:59 PM, Tim Kelly said:

I don't imagine those graphite arbors have any structural strength at all. They might be marginally lighter than masking tape, but probably less strong. I've used masking tape on nearly every rod I've built and never had a seat go lose, except one of those stupid SK2 seats, which I would never fit on a rod again as they have no strength, are uncomfortable and are generally a daft design. 

They are loaded in compression while being retained between the blank and the seat and they are plenty strong enough.  In fact many builders use only about an inch long section at each end of the reel seat on fresh water bass rods and have no trouble.  I've never had a seat come loose ever, no matter what design seat or what design arbor.  I believe this is the experience of most builders.  The rods that are offered in big box stores often use cardboard for shims and don't use enough epoxy to keep water from the cardboard.  No doubt masking tape done right will last forever.

I never looked at arbor material as a structural component, just something to keep things concentric with the epoxy in the gaps being the true bond.