Sorry, not to be of real help here, but when I looked at your work - I thought, damn - that's going to be nice. Hope others can be more constructive.

 

Appreciate it! That's why I'm a bit nervous to get it right. It's not like wrapping guides where you can just redo it if it doesn't look great. Once you have sanded the material away there is no turning back.

 

If interested ... Let me know what the upper and lower grip lengths are, and the length/power of the rod.

I’ll post a simple OD schematic of one of our typical profiles to meet that criteria for you to consider.

Meiz

 

Thanks Bob, I was hoping you might chime in. I would be honored if you'd share that with me.
The rear grip came in at 4 5/8" and the fore grip is 13" even. It's for a Rain shadow 13'3" 8 weight. 22.5" total length including reel seat.

 

Thanks Bob, I was hoping you might chime in. I would be honored if you'd share that with me.
The rear grip came in at 4 5/8" and the fore grip is 13" even. It's for a Rain shadow 13'3" 8 weight. 22.5" total length including reel seat.

OK, sounds good ... I’ll draw it up this evening, post tomorrow.

Looks to me that your ODs above and below the reel seat may have to taper off without a flare ... Which is fine.

The top of the upper, and bottom of the lower appear to have a lot of material remaining ... Which is good ... };^) ... !!!

... Our OD profiles are pretty thin. Adjust my call outs as you feel necessary, but I think you’ll very much appreciate a thin profiled upper/lower grip in the long run.

A slim profile will assist in disciplining you to not “hammer handle” the grip assemble with full hand holds.

Meiz

 

Whoa, is the best practice considered to seat the cork prior to shaping the handles? I have made two Spey grips on some trout rods, and both times I shaped them on threaded rod before I added them onto the blank. I might be working backwards here. Thanks.
I really like the layout on the cork, can't wait to see it finished.

 

From what I've seen it can be done either way. On single hand rods I'd always done it on a threaded rod, but mine wasn't long enough to do this so I opted to build it on the blank.

 

It was my fourth rod, but the first rod that I really like that help informed me on what a godo handle is. This was more than a dozen years ago, and it was a Meiser S (I have 3 now). Some of the attributes, I like then and like today, is the ball joint end, the thin cork and the use of cork at the top - I find it most comfrotable in the cold and-or wet.

Over-time, I have develop some preferences.
* I like a shorter lower handle > Spey Lower Handle Using heavier cork or wood in the lower have is good.
* and I like the ability to grip over the handle ends, so no flares.

A handle on a Meiser 1507S, another favourite rod, but a handle of my own chooising.

I use the building of a Godshall Quantum to experiment on handle design, which I have documented at 16’7″ 7wt Steve Godshall (my) Build – the Handle I do not use a template, but I do lay it all out, and I have use other rods - often a Meiser - to influence the final taper.

 

Just a suggestion: This is divided into 1” increments given in MM <> Net length is 13” <> Pretty typical profile for our shop ...

 

Just a suggestion: This is divided into 1” increments given in MM <> Net length is 13” <> Pretty typical profile for our shop ...

View attachment 475162

Perfect, thank you so much. Time to get out my calipers! Could you share a butt grip as well?

 

This website has a bunch of free grip templates. Grip Templates

 

Thanks so much to Bob I've got this really close to finished. Need to round out a couple of sharp spots and then hit it with the fine grit.

 

... Oh heck yea ... };^) ... !!! <> Lookin Good.

After milling lord knows how many thousands of grips over the years ... I still find it to be my favorite aspect of rod building.

Well done sir ... !!!

Meiz

 

Fine work. Love the shape and dimensions especially on your top handle. Very well done.
If this is your first attempt it is amazing.
Mike

 

Thanks! I've done two single handers, this is my first spey handle. Also the first one I've turned on the blank, which had me a bit nervous because there's no turning back!

 

Looks great and help from a real pro…priceless! Awesome community!

 

For a first long spey handle turned on the blank trust me it is very brave. I have been a very low volume custom builder for too many years and I still sweat and stress when it comes to turning.
Your natural Cork looks very nice quality. Tough to find these days.
Mike

 

Thanks again for all who helped, I think I'm down shaping. Just need to decide if I want to urethane and cork seal or leave it natural.