Hey guys. What kind of foam do you use for inlays in the handle. I found some thin foam almost like EVA, can i inlay this in a handle. I got a big sheet for $ .33.
As always, thanks alot.
sincerely,
Dan colville

By the way, i wanted to put it in cork handles to highlight the burl.

Yep!! Craft Foam is very good for it. Don't use tightbond though use Rod Bond or I have found they will often pull apart

Mike

I have used foam sheets that I buy at Michael's to make rings. I use them to highlight burl but be sure to use contact cement when gluing two or more foam rings together. I make cutters out of copper pipe to punch out rings and the hole in the middle.

COntact Cement is what you want to use, regular epoxy makes a HARD glue line. No need ofr foam cutters, just cut a square out so that it is a little larger than the cork or EVA you are inlaying into, then sand it down. Much easier.

There is an article in the issue of RodMaker that's printing now, that goes into great detail about all this.

Foam to foam, use contact cement. Foam to cork, use two part epoxy. Cork to cork, use epoxy or Titebond II or III.

Pay attention to the foam thickness, most come in sheets of either 2mm or 3mm. By alternating them or using them in a sequence, you can generate some very pleasing effects.

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As far as cutting them for ring, I use a 1 1/4" hole saw with my little tabletop drill press and drill several layers at once (use a piece of wood underneath) and get nice rings with a 1/4" hole in the middle. It makes it easy to cut a ton of them up at once and have them on hand.

Mike

I use a paper cutter to cut squares, with width equal to or larger than my cork ring OD. I form the center holes with a cheap set of steel punches. I can punch about 5 foam disks/squares at a time.

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THere's no need to even punch a perfect hole in the center, just use an Exacto and cut a square or triangle out. I use an exacto to cut teh squares for trim rings.

We're talking about using tools to save 3 or 4 seconds - all anyone really needs to do this is a regular razorblade.

Very true, it's just a matter of neatness for me. And, you can make your own punches out of a PVC pipe or small craft type brass tubing. Just run one end around on your grinder and you've got perfectly functional punches for almost no money.

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I just use spent rifle brass from my 7mm Mag; makes a .284" hole and that gives a bit of extra space for the 1/4" mandrel to slide on through without problems. These make a great hole punch and don't need to be sharpened; they do it quickly and efficiently.

Putter
Williston, ND