I got the parts(plug and insert only) yesterday to making a fighting butt for a saltwater rod. I've never done one these before and want to find out what people recommend for the end of fighting butt. The catalogs all seem to show something black, which I assume is probably EVA. I plan to Andy Dear's exotic cork and I'm looking for suggestions on how to finish off the end.

Thanks

For one that is glued on I usually glue the rings together, shape then glue to a scrap blank section that fits into the butt of the rod, fill the hole in the end, coat if you want. You may have to drill out some of the end of the blank to make it fit. When dry I just glue - rod bond - it in place.

If you're using Andy's exotic burl, a piece of the 1/4" burnt exotic burl on the butt trims it up well.

Putter
Williston, ND

Gerry,
I like a short fighting butt on my rods. I leave an inch of the blank sticking out past the reel seat. I glue two cork or burl rings and turn one to fit the inside of an eva butt cap. I shape the other ring to match the butt cap and bore out cork to fit the blank. I then epoxy the cork and cap and let it set-up clamped to get a good fit. Finally I epoxy the fighting butt to the end of the blank. Check the photo section; I posted a grip with fighting butt that I made this week.
Cheers, Ellis

If it's not goint to be a removable butt , I do it like Ellis . For the detachable ones with the incert , some of the stems do fit in the blank , but be sure to fit them with some type of shim , I like thread , or if there is a lot of space , masking tape . As for the butt itself , and I think you are asking about the end , you can use any of the burl corks available (Andys is very nice and durable so far) . The composite (rubberized) burl is pretty durable , I have never used EVA or hylapon for the very end .As for an end cap look in the hardware section of the home stores for table leg ends , pharmacys for crutch ends , and coins work also . What ever you put on the end will have a better chance of staying on if there is a post attached to it , to go inside the butt cork . Use your immagination , you can get it to look nice and be functional . Have fun . JHD

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