I have an All Star 1384 (ok I have 3) and thought about putting a plate type reel seat on it. To get a tube type reel seat in the place needed I would have to use a size 28, it seems to bulky to me. One of the rods will a casting surf rod (I cut 6" off of the tip and tested casted 4 and 6 oz. very well.) and one (and possibly the third) a spinning. I have not used the plate type seats yet and wonder how much it would cut down on the "bulkiness"/size of the reel seat area? I'm also not sure how to attach/mount the plate. Any suggestions?

tiaght lines

The plate is attached with regular guide wrapping thread. It affixes to the rod quite well, cuts down on bulk and holds a reel very securely. You owe it to yourself to give one a try. They're actually quite good and talior made for the application you're looking at.

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Thanks Tom.
Two questions though....Size of thread....Is C or D sufficient? Would I or should I double wrap?

I recently fell in love with plate reel seats for my surf rods.. I plan to either wrap the grips with cork tape and then attach the plated with C or D thread, or put the seat on a underwrap of A thread directly on the blank and then overwrap with C or D. I have also seen them epoxied directly into place but I don't think I will go that route.

The plate reel seats just make sense to me for some reason on surf rods where weight can be a real issue.



Derek L. McMaster
Rohnert Park, CA

Born to Fish, FORCED to Work

I use black electrical tape to hold mine on and have never had any problems with it. I have a cork tape handle. You could do that until you find the ideal spot you would wnt the seat in and then wrap it with thread.

Mark

Derek....I like the idea of mounting the plate on an underwrap. That really got the idea gears turning full throttle.

Mark....Electrical tape? I'm an electrician and couldn't count how many times I have gotten black "gum" on my hands from old tape. Either the tape is old or it has got heated. This hasn't been a problem for you? If not, phasing tape (colored electrical tape) would be neat to try.

Thanks for the input guys, definitely going to give the plate a go.


tight lines

I build several rods a year with plate seats. Firmness depends on how you're mounting the plate seat. If you're mounting directly on the blank you'll wind up with a firmer feel. Even if the plate seat is bound down TIGHTLY to the blank the design does not allow to really snug the plate seat buckle against the the reel foot - there will always be a little wobble.

Cork tape will give under the plate seat and you'll always have some give. Shrink tube type grips are a little better. Pebble-finish urethane rod grip tape probably is best next to a bare blank.

I use the fuji FS-6 plate seat, and sometimes add palm support (Merrick has them under partno PS120). I use size D black nylon to wrap all three lands to bind down the plate seat. If I add the palm support I have to make a portion of the wrap on the palm support first, then wrap the plate seat on.

I see many anglers using electrician's tape for hold plate seats on. It's ok, but it also has some stretch and give to it - many I think use more for the decorative colors of the tape. A better to use is that white medical tape that is fiber reinforced - it has NO stretch.

I know I have a pic of a finished butt section with a plate seat - I can't find it at the moment.....

Lou

Ditto on the palm support.......I build mostly surf rods for myself of two completely different extremes. Meat chuckers for striped bass and shark, etc in the surf, and much lighter weight long rods for coastal surf perch and casting 2oz lures or less for striped bass. An underwrap or wrapping the plate on a textured grip on the heavers is fine as they spend most of the time in rod holders, but I have to agree that wrapping directly on to the blank would be a better option if sensativity and bite detection was key. Would not go the electrical tape route, even with the colors that are out there now as they always seem to get "gooey" on me, but it does make sense as it allows the seat to be repostitioned.

Now if I can just find someone local to powdercoat the plate seats for me.........



Derek L. McMaster
Rohnert Park, CA

Born to Fish, FORCED to Work

If you only use a "A" underwrap under the seat you can match/ or high light the blank color and use a Open spiral "D" wrap to add a little "GRIP" to the Blank.after a coat of finish it should not diminish the sensitivity of the blank