Category Archives: Reel Parts

Bushing/Clicker Wheel

Posted on April 7, 2016 by dave49

For several months I have been building an engraving mill and not producing any reels. So now I am back on reels, and have to re-familiarize myself with the processes. At the center of the reel is a critical part … Continue reading →

Posted in Bushing, Ratchet/Gear, Thrust Bearing | Leave a comment

A Bullet Shaped Knob

Posted on November 6, 2015 by dave49

This is the knob shape that I have adopted for recent reel designs. The profile is a concave curve. I like the appearance, and it provides a positive grip. Last night I was talking to a prospective customer and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Knob | 1 Comment

Fitting Reel Foot to Seat

Posted on June 26, 2015 by dave49

This is my presentation for Grayrock 2015, on the fit of a reel foot to a reel seat. For an earlier post on this same topic, see 28 July 2014. This presentation considers “cap and ring” seats like this, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Foot, Presentations, Rods | 2 Comments

Sole of the Foot Revisited

Posted on June 11, 2015 by dave49

In Sept 2011 I made a post on shaping the groove in the bottom of a reel foot. Part of the problem was that the groove radius needed to be about 0.35 inch, and the largest ball end mill that … Continue reading →

Posted in Foot | 1 Comment

Radius Turning with the Compound Slide

Posted on May 11, 2015 by dave49

“Any tool can be the right tool.” – Red Green I put a “waist” on a reel knob by moving the tip of a lathe tool bit through an arc. The radius of this arc is 1.8 inches and makes … Continue reading →

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Wood Stabilization

Posted on March 26, 2015 by dave49

When a reel is specified to have a wood knob, I typically finish the wood with Tru-Oil. Then one reel came back to me with a tight knob. I know that it originally rotated freely; the wood must have shrunken. … Continue reading →

Posted in Knob | Tagged | 4 Comments

Rounding the Corners

Posted on February 24, 2015 by dave49

The is the rear end plate of reel S/N 52, screwed to a tool plate while I round off the corners of the pillar lugs. This is a fussy operation, with fine positioning of the Y and rotary axes to … Continue reading →

Posted in End Plate, Milling | 2 Comments

Spool Porting

Posted on February 13, 2015 by dave49

The “ports” are holes in the flanges of a spool, made to reduce weight and to provide ventilation for a wet fly line. Today I am using my rotary indexer to port a group of 5 spools. I am building … Continue reading →

Posted in Spool | 4 Comments

Knob Selection

Posted on October 19, 2014 by dave49

While finishing this reel, I made a selection of knobs. Briar, Brazilian Tulip, Rosewood, Alternative Ivory, Turcite X, Black Acetal (on reel). Macro shot of the wood knobs: Briar, Tulip, Rosewood Update 2 March 2015: Two more, ebony and maple … Continue reading →

Posted in Knob | 3 Comments

Top of the Foot

Posted on July 28, 2014 by dave49

I delivered the Bronze Frame Reel (blog post of July 14) to a rodmaker acquaintance, who was making himself a new 3 weight rod just for this reel. He had chosen a CRNS reel seat from REC Components, but found … Continue reading →

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