What is the best way to ream out a preformed cork handle. The previous ones I have done have become larger on the ends and tight in the middle. The current rod I am going to build is a spey rod and this could become a problem with the longer handle. Not to mention the added stress of spey casting.

Once it all fits good should I glue in each piece(rear cork, reel seat, front cork) seperately or all at one time?

Thanks,
Shawn Smith

You need to match your reamer to the rod. If the reamer has a sharper taper than the rod does the grip is not going to fit. This is why you need many reamer sizes. They're cheap to make so have plenty on hand.

If you overream the rear you can shim it on the blank with a band of thread. Make as many layers as you need to fit it.

I like to glue up all my parts together and clamp them with a cork clamp. But it might be easier to just do one at time and let each one set up for several hours. Alignment is easier that way I guess but it takes longer.

Shawn,
Take an old blank, cut it to size with a saw, (about two
feet), coat it with epoxy, and roll it in sand. shake off excess, and let it dry. It makes an excellent cork and EVA reamer. I also made one with the filings sent to me from Clemens, but it was much coarser.
Sanford Hochman

I'm getting ready to start building a rod on an 8', 2# Gatti blank. I haven't received the blank yet so so I'm not sure this will be a problem but, other light weight blanks I've seen have butt diameters smaller than 1/4". With 1/4" being the standard ID for cork rings, it looks like I'll have a loose fit at best for the grip. Is this sloppiness generally dealt with by using a build up of thread as suggested above by William or is there another way that I should be looking at?

Thanks,

Pat

I use wooden dowel rods, builders glue (elmer's or something) and industrial grit (made to mix with paint on floors). Coat dowel in glue roll in grit, let dry. To prevent the narrow middle, I move the grip up and down the rod rather shoving the rod in and out of the grip. Also, hold the grip in the middle, the helps apply pressure in that section. A little technique is needed, but have been doing it for some time without any problems.