How to build a 18mm Handle - Start to Finish

Looking to build out an 18mm Seat Handle grip? We've been designing this system with several industry leaders to give the rod builders a ton of options. This is the checklist for what products you need and steps to take. Below are instructions on how to build a custom 18mm handle like this one below.

Tools Needed

2-part Epoxy like Rod Bond
Tape arbors (or whatever you want to use as an arbor)
sandpaper or abrasive tool

Parts Needed

This is the foundation of your handle build that your reel seat will be glued directly to. For this build we chose to use a 18mm Fuji reel seat with our 18mm reel seat insert tube 24 inches long.

18mm Reel Seat
.970" EVA Ring
.970" Butt Cap
Metal Winding Check - 18mm Tenon : hole size depends on your blank
Choose tapered or parallel tubes for your rear grip and foregrip for the design of your choice. For this build we chose to do a parallel green camo handle that's .971"ID - 1.050"OD tube. This handle fits our .970" EVA rings and our .970" butt cap.

Step #1 - Glue your 18mm reel seat to the 24" long 18mm Reel Seat Insert (usamadefactory.com) in the location of your choice. Make sure to pre-fit everything and mark the tube. (if you don't want a foregrip then glue the seat flush with one end.)

Step #2 - Slide your EVA Trim Piece - Fits .970" (usamadefactory.com) on each side of your seat and glue them in place.

Step #3 - Arbor the 18mm reel seat tube for foregrips and rear grips. (We used green masking tape) *picture shown above, please note the reel seat would already be glued in place)

Step #4 - Glue your taper foregrip .970" tapered grip (usamadefactory.com) and your rear parallel grip .970"ID - 1.050"OD (usamadefactory.com) in place.

Step #5 - Glue your .970 Butt Cap in place. Tape all pieces in place and let set overnight.

Your handle is now ready to receive your blank.

Step #6 - Arbor your blank to fit your new custom handle. You don't have to put the entire blank inside the handle. We recommend you have a min of 4" of your blank glued inside your handle. This allows you to make your finished rod the exact length you want.

Example - This handle is 24" long + blank is 72" long. Arbor the last 4" of the blank and glue it into your 24" long handle. This will make your finished length 92" long.

Step #7 - Glue your blank inside the handle to the desired depth and align your blank up with your real seat.

Step #8 - Slide your 18mm metal winding check down the blank and glue it into your foregrip.

Find all parts at USAMadeFactory.com

Tags: Handle kit