The 349 Project

[Crow]

That's a great looking job !!

[mhc]

Your beast of a 349H has turned out pretty schmick Chris - the polish on the black/white swirl grip is spectacular. I hope you get a bit more bench time next year to keep the rest of us inspired with your skills.

Mike 

[Alto Mare]

That's a killer reel! The knob looks amazing! But then again can't expect anything less from you.

Excellent upgrade Chris!


Sal

[Rothmar2]

Hi All,

Well it's finally done, the last couple of things I wanted have been made and are fitted.
I really wanted the SS rings as per my other builds



And a Ted style clutch lever



I also replaced all the screws, button head SS 5-40 UNC's for the side plates, 6-40 UNC caps for the bridge.
I haven't shown it, but there is Adam's (Motive Fab, I wonder how he is doing?) drag insert, and one of his stars, wide section, and I love it. I also had to put a small shim on the left end of the spool shaft on the Newell spool, still had a little axial play with the left end bearing cap buttoned down. Going lug-less with this one, so here it is





I may get around one day to making the versa-dog lever in stainless, but at this point I have polished the chrome of the original, and it's hard to tell the difference.
Will spool it up with 50lb braid and a top-shot. I was considering 80lb, but am concerned that I would end up bending the spool shaft ends again. After all the time I put into straightening it, I feel it isn't worth the risk.

Thanks for looking!

[Wompus Cat]

All that I See wrong with  it  is ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN!
ONE OF A KIND!!
Thanks for the 3 Year update or I would have Missed it .

[thorhammer]

Chris!!! Glad to see you're still at it!!! Great piece of work.


John

[Swami805]

That's a beauty, as always first class craftmanship, Thanks for the up date

[mhc]

Nice touch engraving the lever settings on the rings and the SS clutch lever is a work of art in itself. It has taken a while to make that elusive 4th ring but it has definitely been worth the wait - a very sleek tanked mariner. I forget the drag figures Adam's 349 inserts generate but it was more than needed.

Mike 

[Rothmar2]

Nice touch engraving the lever settings on the rings and the SS clutch lever is a work of art in itself. It has taken a while to make that elusive 4th ring but it has definitely been worth the wait - a very sleek tanked mariner. I forget the drag   figures Adam's 349 inserts generate but it was more than needed.

Mike 

Hi Mike,

Yep, you know it took a long time to getting around to making the 4th ring after I messed one up out of the initial 4 blanks I had. Sorry to have devalued your set by 50%...
Not too concerned about getting huge drag numbers out of the insert kit, as long as it's smooth, I'm good with that. Initial tests feel very nice.
Would like to say thanks to John for checking up on me while I have been a little quiet the last couple of years. Got a few things to show soon though.

[Keta]

NICE!!!!!

[Rancanfish]

Now I have to resist buying a 349. Nah, I'll never find one that nice!

[Vintage Offshore Tackle]

Love the reel Chris!

If you can use another Newell 349H spool.  I have one that is brand new but has a flat spot in the edge of the handle side rim.  It looks like someone dropped it on a hard floor. If you think that you can fix it, I will make you one hell of a deal.  Please take a look at the photos and let me know what you think.

[Wompus Cat]

Love the reel Chris!

If you can use another Newell 349H spool.  I have one that is brand new but has a flat spot in the edge of the handle side rim.  It looks like someone dropped it on a hard floor. If you think that you can fix it, I will make you one hell of a deal.  Please take a look at the photos and let me know what you think.

If he Doesn't I Does.

[Rothmar2]

Love the reel Chris!

If you can use another Newell 349H spool.  I have one that is brand new but has a flat spot in the edge of the handle side rim.  It looks like someone dropped it on a hard floor. If you think that you can fix it, I will make you one hell of a deal.  Please take a look at the photos and let me know what you think.

Hi Randy

Been a while! But I would like to see Wompus have first dibs at it.I appreciate the offer though.
What I really would like is a crank side bearing, as I have enough parts to make another 349, all except  the vital bearing. I do realise however, that these are practically "unobtainium".

[Wompus Cat]

Is This the Bearing you refer to?