VS handles
 

so after fishing with this in the cold weather I decided to wrap it in nylon twine it makes it great your hand doesn't slip off and it stays a little warmer too.

Thought about doing something like that before it got cold, but since I've been wearing gloves I forgot to. ;)

BTW I haven't noticed any dif in my VS even though it's been cold. Some were saying theirs binds up a bit. No probs here.

wrap saran wrp around it and melt it on. also works good.

sad...such an expensive reel, such a crappy uncomfortable handle.

Someone has to make a better aftermarket handle. (same goes for zbaas) This message has to have gotten back to the developers. The handles are poor and the arm is a tad too short and needs to have an ergonomic bend to be more comfortable to the human body.

The line roller hitting the knuckle feels like it hits harder in the cold.Mine runs alright in the cold no harder or smoother considering the oil and grease I use isn't the exact stuff vs uses or recommend.Nice knob btw.Should patent and sell them "knob socks".

Get a "Power" handle that they use on the 275 or bailed versions. It's a big improvement.

I agree, always feels awkward reeling. I was able to get the new handle instead of the old star nut one and its been a great improvement.

Hate all round knobs. Had a friend machine me these babies for my VS's:

HEY MIKE IS THAT PHONE # ON THE LEGAL PAD FROM THAT SWEDISH ESCORT SERVICE YOU WERE BRAGGING ABOUT ?

Wow, that is slick.....

heresy

e-Hawaii - Fun - e-Hawaii's SEARCHABLE Pidgin English DictionaryDefinition:
homo sexual; a man who acts very feminine or like a woman ... makai (ma kai) (mah kai) Definition: ocean side; towards the ocean (used when ...

so which one is it???

Maybe I need to hit the Bridgeport and whip something up out of stainless, titanium. Maybe I could get rich doing this:rollem: Anyone got any good designs? Like I need another project.

im in for two. 1 for my 150 and 200

lol, first thing that came to mind was, I gotta call Paul :tooth:

A machinist on Cape? Does he want a job? We need help, although the grass is not alway greener on the other side.


Send me a handle Chris after the season winds down and I will see what I can do for you. I need to see a handle or reel in person as I can't afford those reels on a machinist salary:rtfm:

Handles are such a different strokes for different folks sort of thing.

I've never been a fan of the "275" or bailed reel handle. I found myself grabbing it the wrong way too often and never got comfortable with it. Personally I think it's horrible, I'll happily sell you one (we often have them in stock), but I really don't like it.

The round handle always falls perfectly into my hand and I've never had an issue it.

Interesting how things change. Years ago (before VS) we would take the round knobs off a Penn 706 handle and have a machinest replace the torpedo knobs of the 704. Not sure how many would go this route with a VS handle because they probably cost a pretty penny.
The problem with the VS round knobs is they're too small - I told VS this some time ago. Increase the size to the 706 knob and it would be much better.
Prof - I'm sure you can come up with something.

2na,
That's quite a knob - what kind of earings do you wear when using it ;)

DZ

no prob, Hell you can hold onto both my 150 and 200, knowing you, you will probably make a "P.M. 175" by the end of winter....

Now there is trust for ya! pm me an addy, or we can meet up at some point

Sounds good. We will hook up in the near future.

Your buddy must be a true machinist. They always think METAL for everything .... lol.

Why not do it out of a piece of delrin or nylon - cheaper, lighter and won't hurt as much when it you land on it. ;) Plastics won't freeze to your flesh like metal can. :( I've cracked enough ice off of my guides to learn that.

Ey Paul/PM - we have tons of scrap glass filled nylon, or delrin (black or white) where i work. If you need some I can always get some down to mikecc and you can pick it up. We did buy that Hardinge Super Precision lathe - gawd its TOO nice: we have may be one guy here worthy to use it. I'm a hack IMHO - I let the computer software do the work. ;)

You know there is no $ to be made in these parts IMHO. Time is money period. I rather buy it and use it rather than waste time making it. Now if it is winter time and ya are bored that is one thing ....... lol. I have enough things to do around my home than to come back into work at nite and play with junk. If I had that much time on my hands I would be fishing MORE! :D

I like the old torpedo knobs on the older Penn's more so than those big ugly rubba ones. The handles on the Saltiga's are nice as well. Oh, I have some mahogony laying around ..... lol.

No insult to ya "vanstaal" for taking the time to wrap the nylon cord around that factory VS handle. Nice hand work. :) BTW what size is that gold VS - I can't tell from photo. I know it isn't an VSB or 275. ;)

i like the round metal handles, guess i'm weird

Me too.

Another option (I think, I haven't tried it) would be a few coats of Plasti-Dip. It should offer a little insulation and increase grip too.

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

Cheap and available probably at Home Depot. The SWE carries the clear version for fly tying. It's tough stuff, I bet it would work well.

While we're on the subject the tapered nylon bushing inside the handle itself needs to be reworked. If sand finds its way into the shaft of the bushing it starts to eat/wear away the nylon bushing itself allowing excessive play. :hihi:

Oh and instead of making a bailed version of the reel. I feel they should have spent the time/energy/resources to dev. an upgrade kit, longer ti-shaft and upgraded line roller and taller spool, all making use of the same reel body.


Cold? You must be fragile... my reel handles cold whaaaaaaa man up..

it's a 300 :musc:

Ah Ray how right you are. I will try a few, but that is it. No one would want to pay what I would have to charge to make a profit. Delrin would be a good way to go. We got lots but if I decide to try some glass filled i will give you a yell. That lathe is the Cadillac of lathes, price reveals that :rollem:A pure pleasure to run for sure.

Well, I def want to give you some $ Paul, I love custom stuffs ....:tooth:

Not an issue Chris.

JUST BECAUSE I FISH P TOWN DOESN'T MEAN I FISH IN P TOWN. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF MAHU MALIHINI I CANT CAST FAR ENOUGH TO REACH THEM,MAHALO,ALOHA.

I shrink wrapped both my VSB150 and VS250. Nice grip and a little warmer.

my 150 needs a bigger knob and a longer arm....methinks i need machinist help....trade plugs or $$$.

I agree I wish it was bigger..

A common male problem, and you aren't even Irish.

I will look into this dilemma when I get to see one in person. I don't have one. Not promising the moon but maybe I can figure out something with the help of all you guys. Like always time is the major issue.

Beyond a size increase, it needs to be more 3-D. Here are a few ideas that work for the Jap reels. I picked up a very similar power handel (all metal) for the saltiga and it is comfortable and while it looks a little odd you don't get fatigued. Here are a few ideas.

Like this:

http://www.tsurishopjapan.com/popup_...0af6a4fce2a4fc

or

http://www.tsurishopjapan.com/popup_...a83770bc74d6a0

or

http://www.tsurishopjapan.com/produc...0af6a4fce2a4fc



and the arm should look more like this:

http://www.tsurishopjapan.com/popup_...0af6a4fce2a4fc

http://www.tsurishopjapan.com/popup_...a83770bc74d6a0

http://www.tsurishopjapan.com/popup_...0af6a4fce2a4fc


Actually the one I got for my saltiga is the bottom one on this page. It is not perfect but it is far better than the original and the arm was a tad longer which makes it very easy to reel. The feeling of mechanical advantage when reeling is pretty dramatic. (like a trailer winch)

http://www.japantackle.com/Tuning_pa...a_spinning.htm


For me, my favorite handle shape is the egg shape, it just feels good.

love the handles on the stellas or the 8000 shimano models...

Price on those knobs are cheap money wise IMHO. If you can find the size you need BUY it from them and pay the shipping charges!

Who wants to pay me $135/hr to make them a handle w/ cnc costs of $25/hr? ;) Yeah - I didn't THINK so. I know that Paul/PM understands this a lot better than most people. Any one ever order some custom cnc parts wouldn't shell shocked by US made parts. :D

Thanks for the links, Mr Sandman. That should free up PM over the winter for people bugging him to make handles for them. ;)