Reel seat question?

[Drake]

I also have some reel seat questions. Has anybody bought reel seats skeletons from Hook and Hackle?

http://www.hookhack.com/reelseats.html

We will be turning our own wood inserts so we will just be buying skeletons. I will be purchasing a less expensive skeleton like the Pacific Bay A5 for $5.40, the Pac Bay A7 for $13, or maybe the Hook and Hackle U5 for $12.

My brother is building a Sage XP 590-4. Is there a huge advantage too buying some of the more expensive skeletons?

What would some of you experts suggest for an XP?

[cheech]

I've been using the A5 skeletons. they have worked out great. They look a lot nicer if you recess the grip. Some of the fancier seats require a groove in the wood after you turn it. It's royal pain. A5s work fine.

[JayMorr]

I've been using the A5 skeletons. they have worked out great. They look a lot nicer if you recess the grip. Some of the fancier seats require a groove in the wood after you turn it. It's royal pain. A5s work fine.
Cheech, How have you been grooving your reel seats? You using a router or just sanding them down to make them flat?

JayMorr

[cheech]

Cheech, How have you been grooving your reel seats? You using a router or just sanding them down to make them flat?

JayMorr

Jay- You have to have a special attachment to a router. I haven't gotten one to turn out right for me yet. I just need the right tool for the job.

[JayMorr]

Thanks man. I was wondering how you do that. Should I search any sites particular for this tool?

JayMorr

PS you fishing with any of your custom rods this weekend at the Green?

[cheech]

I just finished the 4 wt of my life to have it break on the first outing (see Cabela's rods suck). It had a sweet burl grip and Box Elder burl reel seat. I'm supposed to get a H&H blank today. If it comes, I will wrap and glue it tonight. If not Curtis is going to hook me up with a Sage for the day. I may have a custom rod or two with me as back up, but I probably won't fish them.

[JayMorr]

Let me know. I will have some rods with me. You can use my SAGE if you want as well.

Talk soon.

JayMorr

[Drake]

I've been using the A5 skeletons. they have worked out great. They look a lot nicer if you recess the grip. Some of the fancier seats require a groove in the wood after you turn it. It's royal pain. A5s work fine.
Just so I understand you correctly, I have 2 more questions when using the A5's. As long as I have access to a lathe (and a saw of course), those are the only tools I should need for the wood insert, right? And I don't need to worry about the groove that you see in some inserts?

[chris]

The groove for your reel to insert into on some seats is quite easy to create with an inverted chisel shaped like an upside down U, sort of just not as prominant as the letter. They are hard to find unless you are at woodwork oriented place of business. Mine is old from working on the farm and has duct taped handle, my grandfather made it in Texas.

[cheech]

Just so I understand you correctly, I have 2 more questions when using the A5's. As long as I have access to a lathe (and a saw of course), those are the only tools I should need for the wood insert, right? And I don't need to worry about the groove that you see in some inserts?


Lathe and saw should be enough to do the trick. I take a block of wood, drill a 3/8" hole in to and stick it on a 3/8" rod for turning. If you have a sharp bit (gotta love the drill Dr.), and no wobble to the bit, it should be such a tight fit that you shouldn't have to secure it with anything. You will want to get some teak oil to soak it in for 3/5 minutes after turning. That will help seal the wood. I have been finishing mine with a high gloss spar urethane. Good good stuff. Oh yeah, for the measurements on the insert. the part that the threads get glued to should be 5/8" in diameter, and the larger part should be 17 mm. I know it's screwy doing it half with metric, but it works for me. Also be aware that of the two sliding rings on the seat, one is slightly smaller than the other. The smaller of the two should be the one that you glue to the wood. Good luck.

Cheech



Chris- I would love to see your tool ;-) I would like to see your master setup sometime, and maybe get some pointers.