ONE-PIECE RODS 87 



will fit the taper of the reelseat nicely, while 

 the other end should lack a quarter-inch of 

 being as long as the reelseat. Slide this pine 

 sleeve down over the rod (see Fig. 30), coat 



Fig. 30. Corks in Place and Sleeve Ready to Be Glued 

 On. 



the rod and the uppermost cork with glue, 

 press the pine sleeve home and put the rod 

 aside for a couple of days until the glue dries. 



If you want the handgrasp to be shaped in 

 a certain way and be nicely finished, have it 

 turned in a lathe. I prefer to have mine per- 

 fectly cylindrical throughout, and press the reel- 

 seat into the top cork, leaving a right-angled 

 shoulder to serve in lieu of a finger hook. I 

 take a piece of sandpaper, folded round a block 

 of wood, and turning the rod rapidly, work 

 back and forth lengthwise of the grasp, gaug- 

 ing frequently, then using fine sandpaper until 

 the grasp is cut down to i 1-16 inch in diam- 

 eter. 



Taper the lower corks until the buttcap will 

 fit snugly. Warm the buttcap, rub a little ce- 



