What is the disavantage od glueing up the rings on the blank and turning it on the blank.I realize if it gets screwed up or gouged you have more work to remove and start over.but I dont p[an on screwing up(lol).

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Hi Fred.

We do all ours on the blanks. I feel it saves time and does a better job. As you stated if you scewup there is more work to remove the material. If you nick the blank with sandpaper while turning a grip you could destroy the blank. Just be very careful and take you time. One big advantage of turning a grip on a blank is that you can remove the blank and see how the grip feels (big advantage). We went to doing all on blanks this fall after a very nice cork grip (with a lot of man hours) got messup on mandrel. I know that the mandrel error was my fault but also know that if that grip was turned on a blank I would have been all set. Somehow I had 3 very small, and I mean very small places on the mandrel without wax and the grip broke off mandrell while removing the grip. IMO EVA is formed easier on the blank. Always remember that you do not make mistakes while turning on the blank, you make creative design changes. LOL I know I'm going to take flack on this by going against the grain but you asked.
So blame Fred.

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

Hank,I also feel the handle will fit better due to each ring being sized for the position on the blank.When I build on a mandrel and then ream to fit I sometimes cannot get the taper perfect and end up with a gap at the end of the grip to the blank.Due to a change in creative thinking today I removed a mandrel built grip and was surprized at how easy it was to remove because of spots that werent as tight to the blank and didnt get a fill of glue.I previously built on the blank and switched to the mandrel due to people wanting me to make cork grips for their projects.I`ll continue to do this but for my build I think I will leave them on the blank.Most of the rods I build are medium to heavy salt water so I dont have to worry about the blank not being able to support the grip rigidly.This is why I would use a mandrel for lighter rods to have a more solid base to work with.As with the EVA I also agreee it is easier on the blank due to the taper changing the shape after installation.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Just a lot easier to do it off the blank. This way if they are to be sealed or stained, off is easier.
Then of course the screw ups. Also the blank can get damaged when turning to fast

i like my cork to be shaped off the blank. This way i can shape it without the thought of damaging a blank by doing something stupid or by accident. I think it would be nice to be able to put the cork on the rod and shape it there, but with some of my shapes, i have brought the cork right down to where it meets the blank, (as in a cigar shaped handle), and i would have scratched the blank to @#$%& if i would have turned it on the blank. I guess it depends on the shape of the handle and the tools you have to turn the rod after you have glued the cork to the blank. I agree that Hank has a good poiont as it would be a time saver because i spend about 30 minutes after shaping re-reaming the cork to fit the blank.



MI Builder

My vote would be for off the blank

Mike

I'll go with the last three. Off the blank. Glued, shaped, sanded, stained/finished, and sealed prior to installing.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds