Hi guys... has anyone ever had ago at making there own carbon drag washers, I was thinking of having a bash at making my own washers as I have 9 spools and its not cheap to convert all them, iv seen a few videos how to make them but wondered if anyones had a go and could give some tips....
Having bought some ready cut out washers for my old daiwa emblem x reels it looks fairly straightforward.
Buy the carbon sheet, cut some stiff card to match your old spool washers, then use the card as a template to mark out and cut out the carbon sheet.
Use very sharp scissors for the outer and a scalpel or craft knife for the inner.
Buy the carbon sheet, cut some stiff card to match your old spool washers, then use the card as a template to mark out and cut out the carbon sheet.
Use very sharp scissors for the outer and a scalpel or craft knife for the inner.
In reply to Post #1
I've never tried but I'd probably try a holesaw in the right (internal) size
I've never tried but I'd probably try a holesaw in the right (internal) size
In reply to Post #3
You can actually buy a washer punch
You can actually buy a washer punch
In reply to Post #1
If you have a spiral wood drill (with the two wings on the outside of the point to give a clean cut), it might be worth a try for the inner diameter.
If you have a spiral wood drill (with the two wings on the outside of the point to give a clean cut), it might be worth a try for the inner diameter.
In reply to Post #4
Wonder if a punch would crack or shatter the carbon sheet, I have found diamond tile drills that are the right size and are only a about a fiver, I was thinking going go down that rout to be honest....
Wonder if a punch would crack or shatter the carbon sheet, I have found diamond tile drills that are the right size and are only a about a fiver, I was thinking going go down that rout to be honest....
I've cut loads of carbon for my sprint car build. It will wreck most tools in no time. Most of it was 1mm thick and above so not quite the same.
Diamond drills might work, normal drills leave a very rough finish. I use Perma-grit tools to cut and shape the sheets. The dust is very bad for your lungs so work outside and wear a decent mask.
Personally on something so precise as reel washers I just bought ready-made. No way I could have cut them like that with any hand tools, I assume they use a CNC router or laser.
Diamond drills might work, normal drills leave a very rough finish. I use Perma-grit tools to cut and shape the sheets. The dust is very bad for your lungs so work outside and wear a decent mask.
Personally on something so precise as reel washers I just bought ready-made. No way I could have cut them like that with any hand tools, I assume they use a CNC router or laser.
Hhmmmmmmm
I had a Google and see you can get carbon sheet 0.25mm thick and I wonder if you could sandwich a compressive layer between two carbon washers to give slick, non grabby drag with a broader adjustment.....
I had a Google and see you can get carbon sheet 0.25mm thick and I wonder if you could sandwich a compressive layer between two carbon washers to give slick, non grabby drag with a broader adjustment.....
I've not tried it on carbon but I have used punches in vrious materials for washers and I'd be tempted to try it, though against a hard surface. I can't help but feel a drill bit or punch on a soft surface will pull at the carbon thread.
Let us know how you get on whatever you do
Let us know how you get on whatever you do
I made some using carbontex sheet. You dont need to be precise, i just cut used an existing washer as a template and scissors so that they fit. Been in me reels for 3 years now. Dont forget you will need a tiny bit of proper washer grease applied to each washer face. Makes them smooth as silk
do they have to be carbon?
I made some a few weeks ago, I have a lathe
and turned down some acrylic rod to the diameter
needed, then drilled a 9.5mm hole in the centre,
I don't play fish on the clutch so the only time they
come into play is on the take (like a baitrunner).
I found 1mm thickness about right for my reels,
if you try making washers out of a sheet see if this works....
using a piece of ply about quarter of an inch thick,
knock a pin through it then another at half the
diameter of the washer, using it like a drawing compass hold
1 pin still and while pressing lightly on the other turn the
sheet or the compass whichever is best for you.
I made some a few weeks ago, I have a lathe
and turned down some acrylic rod to the diameter
needed, then drilled a 9.5mm hole in the centre,
I don't play fish on the clutch so the only time they
come into play is on the take (like a baitrunner).
I found 1mm thickness about right for my reels,
if you try making washers out of a sheet see if this works....
using a piece of ply about quarter of an inch thick,
knock a pin through it then another at half the
diameter of the washer, using it like a drawing compass hold
1 pin still and while pressing lightly on the other turn the
sheet or the compass whichever is best for you.
In reply to Post #11
The worry with acrylic would be the heat build up, there's a lot of friction going on in the drag system.
I'd be interested to see how they look in a year
The worry with acrylic would be the heat build up, there's a lot of friction going on in the drag system.
I'd be interested to see how they look in a year
In reply to Post #1
Iv have a small sheet of 3k 1mm carbon sheet, but its very shinny, not a dull mat finish like the washers iv seen online, think i may have the wrong stuff....
Iv have a small sheet of 3k 1mm carbon sheet, but its very shinny, not a dull mat finish like the washers iv seen online, think i may have the wrong stuff....
In reply to Post #13
The washers I got are very low resin content and both sides are Matt. Shinny carbon is for race cars
The washers I got are very low resin content and both sides are Matt. Shinny carbon is for race cars