Would like to have som advice on how to customize the grip.
I am about to build a grip of cork rings, and would like to have some decorative inlays between some of the rings. What kind of material could be used here? If i use rings of wood, would that work or would the grip be uncomfortable to hold/fish with? Maybe leather?
I suppose that burl cork rings with different color would do the trick, but any other material would be interesting.......
Thanks....

Try Customgrip II from Clemens. They have rings that come in different diameters. It turns down easily and looks great. I like the black. Click on the Clemens link at the left and check it out.

Unless you have a very deft and experienced hand at the lathe, you will probably want to stick with materials that abrade at about the same rate as cork. At least for your first efforts. One obvious choice is foam. Go to the www.momentoffame.com web site and look at the picture labelled "pinstripe grip". He used 2mm thick foam from the craft area at Walmart for a very delicate effect. Somewhat thicker sheets of EVA foam in various colors are available from several of the sponsors at the left. You will get lots of other ideas from that website as well.

I use cork rings, both regular cork and burl. I have got an inlay jig from Clemens. I figure the pattern and cut the cork with a razor blade. I use the same wood that I use on my reel seat to make two trim rings for my grip, one on the front and one on the back of the grip. You can also pick up trim rings with different colors and do a checkerboard inlay. Looks great and people will notice it!

There will be an article in the next issue of RodMaker that details some new materials and ways of assembling and turning these into some really beautiful grips. It's a very detailed article and should expand the craft's knowledge in this area.

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Goran,
I have been using rubberized cork with great success for grip inlays for several years now. This is not "Burl Cork" but rather rubberized cork much like what is used on fighting butts etc... You can buy this stuff from some suppliers, but I'll let you in on a little secret. You can get this stuff from Gasket supply shops really cheap. Often times I have coerced the owner into letting me into his srap pile for free. Several Auto parts stores like NAPA carry it as gasket material as well. You can get in many different thicknesses from 1/8" on up to 1/2' or more. I have made some really striking grips with this stuff that have really drawn a lot of attention from local Bass Fishermen. There is a picture of one of the grips in the last issue of Rodmaker from the article I wrote on turning reel seats.

I forgot to add, this stuff comes in sheets, so you'll have to get a 1 1/4" hole saw and cut into rings.....works really good!