I'm considering turning by own reel seats. What types of finish, if any, should I apply before installing in the seat skeleton? Are there any particular woods to stay away from? And lastly, how snug should they be in relation to the blank?

There are many different types of finishes to consider, from oil, varnish, urethanes and polyurethanes. Which type is best for you depends upon the look you want, the type wood you are working with, and your own personal preferences. On most woods that are not overly resinous, I really like the Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil (which is really a wiping varnish). Yesterday, however, I saw a seat finished with polyurethane and it was beautiful. Looked like glass.

The insert should be turned so that it fits the blank in such a way that you can good contact between the surfaces, but not overly snug or tight. Then again, not sloppy loose either.

This won't do you much good right now, but in the next issue of RodMaker, we will be featuring our second installment of how to turn your own reel seat inserts. It also deals with finishing.

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