How to make cork reel seat?

[RyanDR]

Hey guys! This forum has been super helpful already in my first rod build. Asking a few questions and looking through the old posts. But I want to make another rod with a reel seat similiar to something like the G loomis ex6 or the Fenwick hmg. I find the full cork like this very comfortable. On my first rod I have the Fuji VSS real seat and that's the closet handle/seat kit I could find pre made. Anybody have any advice on how I could make something like this? Thinking getting some sort of skeleton seat than just turning some cork to and indenting it to fit the reel. 

 

http://www.outdoorlife.com/sites/outdoorlife.com/files/styles/large_1x_/public/import/2015/DSC_0528_0.JPG?itok=C0_bBrT5 

[MickD]

You can almost match this by getting a skeleton component set, size 17 to make it a little larger than the usual 16, and construct your seat assembly from that set + a custom machined (I use a drill press and sandpaper, not as good as a lathe, but I have no lathe) cork insert.  If the insert OD is such that the hood clears the insert, its length is not that critical.  But if the insert is larger than that, the most important dimension is the length-the insert should be just a little shorter than the dimension between the hoods when your planned reel is installed.  That ensures the reel will be clamped tightly.  If the insert is too long you won't be able to tighten the reel down.  

 

This seat looks like it must have a cork covered nut, a nut covered by a cork sleeve.  A long sleeve of cork coming from the rear.  The front hood is fixed, right.  Getting the big ID on a cylinder of cork is the challenge in exactly matching it.  Unless you can find a component like that-Loomis must get them somewhere.

 

Another challenge is getting the cork of the grip to match the cork of the sleeve and insert.  If you can make them yourself out of rings, you can get the match.  Fuji has decorative carbon fiber nut cover/sleeves, but not cork.

 

I've done a similar seat except for the nut sleeve, and it is a very comfortable seat.  

 

Let me know if you figure out how to match it.

[RyanDR]

Thanks for the long reply. That's a bunch of information. I'll update when I figure it all out. 

[spoonplugger1]

Pac Bay has made that seat for over 30 years, still do in the 17 mm size you want. CI17-250 cork spacer, and G17SKIC I believe steleton reel seat. Just about everyone carries Pac Bay, before GLoomis was sold they used a lot of Pac Bay reelseats and guides.

[MickD]

http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Graphite_4/Quick-Lock-Recessed-Cork-Foregrip-for-Fuji-HPS

[MickD]

7 hours ago, spoonplugger1 said:

Pac Bay has made that seat for over 30 years, still do in the 17 mm size you want. CI17-250 cork spacer, and G17SKIC I believe steleton reel seat. Just about everyone carries Pac Bay, before GLoomis was sold they used a lot of Pac Bay reelseats and guides.

 

Can you tell me where in the Pac Bay catalog this part is shown?  I cannot seem to find it in their 2016 catalog.  

[spoonplugger1]

Mick,

Pulled the part numbers off stock and off the top of my head, but page 50 is where it's at in the catalog.

[MickD]

Got it, thanks.  I missed the insert box.  I don't think this is the same as the RyanDR was showing.  Using an insert like this leaves a lot of threads exposed while the Loomis has them hidden.  The Loomis has, I believe, an up-locking seat with a sleeve of cork over the threads and nut which hides the threads and nut.  The method I was describing would yield a seat with a cork insert and no threads between the nut and hood, but there would be threads and nut exposed on the one end.  A cork sleeve like the Fuji might be close to what RyanDR is looking for.

[spoonplugger1]

Looks like it might be a Fuji KDPS17ASH with Loomis' own cork on it, it will fit on a Pac Bay or Am Tack reelseat, I've swapped the nuts from one to the other from time to time over the years.

[MickD]

12 hours ago, spoonplugger1 said:

Looks like it might be a Fuji KDPS17ASH with Loomis' own cork on it, it will fit on a Pac Bay or Am Tack reelseat, I've swapped the nuts from one to the other from time to time over the years.

I've not used that part and am a little confused.  The hood on the KDPS is floating, right?

[spoonplugger1]

Acts just like a regular singled keyed floating hood nut that's been around forever, it's just a long version that you put a cork, or eva grip over. Hear some of the new stuff has two slots, but don't know for sure.