Hey Fellas,

Does anyone have any experience reaming carbon fiber tubing from Matagi? I'm using it purely for aesthetic purposes on a split grip and I want it to slide over the rod blank. I don't want to use it as a handle extension at this time. The OD on the blank is about 13.57 mm while the ID of the carbon tubing is 13.00 mm so I would only have to ream about 0.5 mm. This would save me 1mm of OD and give me a slightly more seamless transition from butt to tip.

I realize that at the end of the day, we're talking 1mm here but, if you haven't figured it out, I am THAT anal retentive haha. Plus, you know what they say, "good is the enemy of great and great is the enemy of perfect."

As always, you guys rock. Thanks in advance.

---Carlos



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2017 10:00PM by Carlos Saravia.

Carlos, my math shows you would have only .07 mm material left. You must have a different ID value than shown. Perhaps 12 mm?

Hi Spencer,

Thanks for your reply. I think we're on the same page, actually. I'm currently looking at the MC50-15. The Matagi catalog lists it as being 15mm OD with a 13mm ID, with a tolerance of -.5mm to -.1mm outer diameter. My thinking was that on the low end of things, if I got a tube that was 14.5mm OD and about 13mm ID, I would end up with about .9-.8mm of material left. If needed, I can move my handle up a fraction of a inch to bring the tubing walls to just a little over 1mm.

What do you think would be the least amount of material I could get away with between tubing walls? I think I'm going to order the MC50-15 and the next size up just in case.

Alternatively, I might be able to use carbon fiber skin, as per the foam-core carbon skin grips. I would just need to find carbon skin that closes down to that small of an outer diameter. I could wet lay the carbon fiber skin onto the blank itself, epoxy on top, polish, and finish it with some U-40 Rod bond. This would also give me a perfect excuse to buy the supplies needed to finally get into the foam-core carbon fiber skin grips. :D

---Carlos



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2017 11:11PM by Carlos Saravia.

Take a look at this website. All sizes and colors of composite/carbon fiber tubing plus epoxy, etc, and a how to video.
[www.sollercomposites.com]#
[m.youtube.com]

Norm

Awesome! Thank you for the link, Norm.

To those who might be following this treat or read it in the future,

I removed a piece of carbon tubing from a scrap Daiwa Fuego rod to see if I could ream it. I've reamed a little over 1mm off of most of the circumference of the tubing and I'm nowhere near to the point of feeling like I've compromised the integrity of the tubing. Per the results of this test, I think I might be able to ream out the 13mm Matagi tube, as long as the two tubes are comparable in material.

So far, it's reamed relatively easily. It's not as easy as reaming foam cores, EVA or even cork, but it's certainly doable if you take your time and do not overheat the tubing or the reamer.

I think I'm going to try this technique on my build. Going with the next size up is easier, require less cleanup and is probably the best way to go but, I like a good challenge. I'll post back here once I finish the rod. :D.