There is a nice article in the latest issue of "Rod Maker" about a cork grading system.

My problem is that I can find cork rings that look like the Grade 1 in the pictures, but when the rings are turned over, they may be a grade 2 or 3 on the back side.

The best rings I have found so far have been from Angler's Workshop.

Has anyone found grade 1 rings on both sides? what is your source?

If you read the article carefully you will find that grade #2 is what most companies commonly sell as their best grade in what they call flor or extra select. It is going to be tough to find #1 anywhere these days but they do turn up. I bought some from Golden Witch about a year ago that would perfectly match #1 in the photo. You can try them and see what they have now.

I did get good use out of the new scale in the past week. I had called a dealer about some parts and he told me what good flor cork rings he had just gotten in. He went on and on about how perfect they were. So I asked him to get out his Rodmaker and tell me which grade they matched in the photo. He said that after looking at his rings next to the photo he guessed he'd have to say they were about a #2. I did buy some and they were pretty much #2 grade. I was satisfied but only because I knew beforehand what I was going to get. The way he was talking I thought they would be perfect. If I hadn't had that Rodmaker scale and had gotten those same rings in I think I would have felt that I had been mislead.

I think the new grade scale is going to be very helpful to those of us who buy much cork. Now we can know beforehand just what to expect when we order.

I found the best grade cork for me comes from Anglers Workshop. I peronally go there and high grade what I want
Good Wraps Bob

It woudl be very rare to find a ring that is a grade 1 on one side and grade 3 on the back. The opposing faces may vary a bit, but almost never that amount. I still have some of what the article would rate a grade 1. If I located the best face and flip them over, I may find a little difference and a few might then fall into the grade 2 category, but almost none would appear like the grade 3. That's a world of difference.

Most of what vendors these days sell as Flor or AAA or Extra Select or whatever they want to call their best grade is going to fall into grades 2 or 3. Yes, some are selling what they call Flor and it looks like grade 3. However, you have to keep in mind that there is no standard anywhere that says that Flor grade is particularly good.

Just ask your dealer to pick a half dozen rings out of his best stock and set them on his counter randomly and match them up to whichever grade in the photo they closest match. At least that way you'll have some idea of what he's selling. Even rings within a grade will vary some, but rings have a grade 1 face on one side and a grade 3 on the other are going to be pretty rare. That's just too far apart to happen on the same ring. Not saying it can't, but it's not going to be the norm.

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Golden Witch says they sell cork in 1/4" widths as well as in 1/2" precisely to minimize (but not eliminate) variation on the two sides of the ring. It's not that they grade their cork only after looking at both sides (as far as I know), but that it allows builders to be more selective when they chose rings from their personal stash.

Is there any pictures of the cork grading scale on the net.

Hi all! We will be grading our cork according to this new scale as quickly as we can implement it and will post a notice here when our site has been changed and stock sorted appropriately. We do have a (VERY) limited supply of "Grade 1" rings available both from our US and Cdn distribution centres, currently listed as "Ultimate". Our Flor grade rings look to be good Grade 2, and are available in greater supply of course.

We look forward to providing you with quality cork when the need arises! :)

All the best,

I can see this is going to be helpful. Order flor cork from 5 different suppliers and you\'ll probably get 5 totally different grades of cork. Order Grade2 from 5 different suppliers and what you get should all be pretty much the same. Great idea.

I have not purchased cork from any of the sponsors so I cannot comment on their quality. I have been purchasing cork from an importer for several years now and have been more than satisfied. I purchase only their best quality then cull. Best rings are used for bamboo and the culls for other. Usually get about 20% culls. I have not seen the photos of Grade 1, but could assure you that the culls I receive would be in Grade 1. Grips made from good 1/4" rings will be far superior to those made with 1/2" rings. However, you must be very good at matching, gluing and clamping.

If you have not actually seen the scale, you may wish to stop short of declaring your culls Grade 1.


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I don't need to see a photograph of a cork ring to determine what one would perceive to be of top quality. Just start at clear. The secret to obtaining good cork rings is to establish a relationship with a supplier over time and you will get what you need. Nothing has changed; there are excellent rings available from the Catalonia province of Spain and yes, Portugal. No one is hoarding them. You just have to find the right supplier with the right sources.

well, i'd guess technically you're correct ed, start at "clear" and stop immediately? allow one natural hole? allow 2? but even in your first sentence you used the word "perceive" and perception is what leads to grey areas in evaluating cork. who's your supplier ed??? ;-)

eric (realizing i'm delving into what could be considered industrial secrets... ;-)
fresno, ca.