Which TRCSTG 18.5 size should I choose?

The outer diameter is fixed at 18.5 mm, only the inner diameter varies, from 7.5 to 16.5 mm in 0.5 mm steps. Measure the blank at the exact point where the ring will sit and take the next size up. A slight gap is taken up by the epoxy, whereas a ring that is too tight may mark the blank.

Which components does the TRCSTG 18.5 fit?

Rodbuilders' Republic soft touch carbon grips CSTG-IPS16, CSTG-VSS16 butt side and CSTG-RG18, as well as Reel Seat Spinning Rodbuilders' Republic, Fuji Skeleton 17 and Fuji TCH spinning size 15 reel seats.

What is the difference with the TRCSTG 16.5?

The outer diameter. The 16.5 sits on the grip side of a CSTG-VSS16 in a split grip build, or closes a size 16 thread, and it is available from 7.5 to 14.5 mm. The 18.5 covers 18.5 mm outlets and goes up to 16.5 mm inner diameter.

Can the EVA rings supplied with the soft touch grips be replaced?

Yes, that is the main use for this reference. The manufacturer explicitly allows for the EVA rings to be replaced with metal rings, with the inner diameter matched to the blank.

TRCSTG 18.5 winding check by Rodbuilders' Republic

Our take on the TRCSTG 18.5

Swapping the EVA rings supplied with soft touch grips for a machined ring shows up immediately in the final look. It is a discreet part, but it is what finishes a handle. With 19 inner diameters and 10 finishes, you have what you need to match any colour theme.

18.5 mm outer diameter, 19 inner diameters

Outer diameter: 18.5 mm
Inner diameter: 7.5 to 16.5 mm, in 0.5 mm steps
Material: machined aluminium
Weight: 1.56 g at 7.5 mm, 0.39 g at 16.5 mm
10 colours: Gold, Silver, Gloss Black, Matt Black, Titanium Chrome, Red, Cobalt Blue, Deep Sea, Jungle Green, Bronze
Spinning and casting builds
Compatible with Rodbuilders' Republic soft touch carbon grips CSTG-IPS16, CSTG-VSS16 (butt side) and CSTG-RG18
Compatible with Reel Seat Spinning Rodbuilders' Republic, Fuji Skeleton 17 and Fuji TCH size 15 reel seats

On the bench: the transition between blank and handle

Replacing the EVA rings with aluminium

Rodbuilders' Republic soft touch carbon grips come with EVA rings. They do the job, but on a carbon build they remain a visual compromise. The TRCSTG 18.5 winding check replaces them with an outer diameter that matches the butt and the rear grip exactly, so there is no step and nothing to blend at the end of the handle. It also closes a thread when you move to a split grip.

Three classic positions on a build:

In front of the butt on a soft touch carbon grip CSTG-IPS16 or CSTG-VSS16 assembly
Behind the rear grip, on a split grip build
At the end of the Reel Seat Carbon Spinning Rodbuilders' Republic or of a Fuji Skeleton 17

Choosing the right inner diameter

The outer diameter is fixed across the range. The inner diameter is therefore what you select according to the blank: measure with a caliper at the exact point where the ring will sit, then take the next size up. The 0.5 mm steps cover the whole 7.5 to 16.5 mm range, which leaves a very small residual gap on a part this visible. A slight gap is taken up by the epoxy, whereas a ring that is too tight has to be forced and marks the blank. On weight, you stay under 1.6 g, with no measurable effect on the balance of the rod. Other outer diameters are available in the winding check range if your build calls for a different reference.

Reference	Inner diameter (mm)	Outer diameter (mm)	Weight (g)
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-Gold	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-Gold	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-Gold	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-Gold	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-Gold	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-Gold	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-Gold	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-Gold	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-Gold	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-Gold	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-Gold	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-Gold	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-Gold	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-Gold	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-Gold	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-Gold	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-Gold	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-Gold	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-Gold	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-GB	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-GB	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-GB	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-GB	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-GB	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-GB	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-GB	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-GB	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-GB	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-GB	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-GB	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-GB	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-GB	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-GB	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-GB	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-GB	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-GB	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-GB	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-GB	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-Silver	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-Silver	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-Silver	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-Silver	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-Silver	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-Silver	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-Silver	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-Silver	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-Silver	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-Silver	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-Silver	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-Silver	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-Silver	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-Silver	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-Silver	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-Silver	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-Silver	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-Silver	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-Silver	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-MB	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-MB	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-MB	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-MB	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-MB	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-MB	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-MB	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-MB	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-MB	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-MB	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-MB	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-MB	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-MB	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-MB	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-MB	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-MB	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-MB	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-MB	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-MB	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-Red	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-Red	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-Red	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-Red	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-Red	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-Red	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-Red	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-Red	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-Red	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-Red	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-Red	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-Red	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-Red	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-Red	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-Red	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-Red	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-Red	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-Red	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-Red	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-CB	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-CB	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-CB	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-CB	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-CB	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-CB	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-CB	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-CB	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-CB	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-CB	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-CB	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-CB	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-CB	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-CB	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-CB	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-CB	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-CB	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-CB	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-CB	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-TC	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-TC	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-TC	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-TC	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-TC	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-TC	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-TC	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-TC	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-TC	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-TC	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-TC	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-TC	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-TC	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-TC	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-TC	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-TC	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-TC	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-TC	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-TC	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-Deep Sea	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-Deep Sea	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-Deep Sea	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-Deep Sea	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-Deep Sea	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-Deep Sea	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-Deep Sea	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-Deep Sea	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-Deep Sea	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-Deep Sea	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-Deep Sea	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-Deep Sea	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-Deep Sea	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-Deep Sea	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-Deep Sea	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-Deep Sea	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-Deep Sea	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-Deep Sea	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-Deep Sea	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-Jungle Green	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-Jungle Green	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-Jungle Green	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-Jungle Green	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-Jungle Green	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-Jungle Green	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-Jungle Green	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-Jungle Green	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-Jungle Green	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-Jungle Green	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-Jungle Green	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-Jungle Green	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-Jungle Green	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-Jungle Green	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-Jungle Green	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-Jungle Green	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-Jungle Green	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-Jungle Green	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-Jungle Green	16.5	18.5	0.39
TRCSTG18.5-7.5-Bronze	7.5	18.5	1.56
TRCSTG18.5-8-Bronze	8.0	18.5	1.53
TRCSTG18.5-8.5-Bronze	8.5	18.5	1.48
TRCSTG18.5-9-Bronze	9.0	18.5	1.42
TRCSTG18.5-9.5-Bronze	9.5	18.5	1.33
TRCSTG18.5-10-Bronze	10.0	18.5	1.27
TRCSTG18.5-10.5-Bronze	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11-Bronze	11.0	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-11.5-Bronze	1.23	18.5	1.23
TRCSTG18.5-12-Bronze	12.0	18.5	1.15
TRCSTG18.5-12.5-Bronze	12.5	18.5	1.08
TRCSTG18.5-13-Bronze	13.0	18.5	0.98
TRCSTG18.5-13,5-Bronze	13.5	18.5	0.87
TRCSTG18.5-14-Bronze	14.0	18.5	0.8
TRCSTG18.5-14.5-Bronze	14.5	18.5	0.72
TRCSTG18.5-15-Bronze	15.0	18.5	0.61
TRCSTG18.5-15.5-Bronze	15.0	18.5	0.56
TRCSTG18.5-16-Bronze	16.0	18.5	0.47
TRCSTG18.5-16,5-Bronze	16.5	18.5	0.39