Question for you folks, I have built a few handles using burl cork and using EVA accent rings in them. Question is if I use cork sealant will they darken or look dull? If so should I just seal the cork and tape the EVA , or don't bother to use anything. These are on Ice rods, that I am making. Thanks in advance.

It really doesnt' do anything. It will make the EVA a little harder, that's all. On a small EVA trim ring, I wouldn't even worry.

how hard would it be to put cork seal on EVA and figure it out?

Like Billy said, try a little on a piece of EVA and see what effect it has.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I am not really worried about the hardness, just the color, I am using orange, yellow, red, black and gray only not in sets. Keeping the seal off the eva would be impossible , Its just the fact that I wet sanded the burl cork rings and the eva, and used a tooth brush with soap to get the accent rings the bright color, and hopefully the cork sealant will not change that significantly. It really dresses the rods up, and the customers expect that it will remain the same, or I think that they are expecting things not to change much. but I will try the finish out before I get to the completed handle. Thanks for the imput.

I've done purple and pink side by side and put U40 Cork Seal over it. To show you how little it darkens them, most people thought the pink was an off-white. It changes a tad, but not too much IMO.

Putter
Williston, ND

If you have a couple of cork rings and slices of EVA to spare here's a little "trick" you can try out. Put them on a mandrel (all glued up), spin them up on a rod lathe and use a regular dryer softener to polish them. The chemicals from the dryer sheet will bleed out and soak the cork and EVA. They will take on a sheen or "polish". Try it on a test piece and see if you like it or not. You'll have to be a little careful that the dryer sheet doesn't tear so fold it over once or twice and try not to use the edge. Oh, and the "clean clothes / perfumy smell" will go away in a day or so.