Dropped a little bit of a clanger in that having received my new RX8+ blank from FishSticks4U .I got out my stash of cork rings to build the handle only to find that they are a tad too large in internal diameter,would it be okay to use masking tape bushings to take up the room or would it be best to buy some more cork to ream to the right diameter.



Thanks again in advance

Bryan

Depending how much of a gap there is, that would work. Spiral it so that there is bare blank. If it's not to much bigger, spiral thread under it

Mike

for the price you pay for a rx8+ why not do it right, & buy some new rings.

IMHO it is ok to shim a reel seat but not a cork grip. Like Ross says, get some new rings and do it right, that way you won't have problems down the road.

I recently repaired a fly rod that needed a new cork grip. When removing the old grip I found it had been shimmed with masking tape for two thirds of its length. This portion of the grip removed quite easily as the the adhesive used had not bonded with the tape although the tape remained sticky and adhered to the blank after several years use plus two months of being submerged in a local river. The portion of the grip not shimmed with the tape adhered well to the blank however.
Based on my experience with this rod I firmly believe that using masking tape to shim grips or reel seats is a poor practise in rod building. There are superior ways to achieve the same results. Do a search on the subject for past discussions on this subject.

Stan

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2005 02:04PM by Stan Grace.

I repaired a rod a couple of months ago that had masking tape under the cork & reelseat. The masking tape was gummy & sticky under the entire area. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

It's also been suggested on the forum previously, that you could use flexcoat arbors to hold the cork on. You'll end up with a slightly lighter weight grip, and have good adhesion on both the blank *and* the cork. I haven't done it, but in theory does seem like it would work just fine.

-- Cheers
-- James

I shim grips, cork and wood, all the time. I use fiberglass tape or thread shims. You want to make sure to use RODBOND and make sure that the shims are not all the way at the end of the grip. Seal the ends with the rodbond so that no water could possibly get in. Make sure to space shims as not to let the grip flex off center. Fill the whole space inside with the goop. You'll have a great, light grip.

Josh Markvan
www.markvanheirloom.com

Heck

Don't play games get new cork and just do it right. You can use the other cork for another blank.

Okay point taken and thanks for all of your replies,new cork is on its way to me .not worth the risk ,ask you say i might as well do it right...



Thanks again to everyone who replied ....

Bryan