I am refinishing an old 8'6" 3 piece rod, it had a stainless steel locking reel seat which came of fairly easy, under the metal is a wood spacer which will not come off. My question is what is the standard size hole for a reel seat / insert? I want to remove enough of this spacer as to slide a new wood reel seat on.  (Pete Van Schaack)

Depends from whom you buy the spacer, but .375 is probably it. With some places you can always get them to custom bore one for you.  (Martin-Darrell)