Is there any way to renew cork, IE old hard cork.
I have done a search and nothing came up.

Tim I have sanded it then filled holes with cork dust and glue mixture. Then applied U40 cork treatment. and made a old worn out cork look like new. Perhaps this might help you bud. Billy

Sanding is a sure fire way to get down to "new" cork, although it removes a bit of diameter. Don't sand any more than you have to.'

You might also try scrubbing the cork with some 409 and a Scotchbrite pad. This does a remarkable job on cleaning cork, although it won't leave the surface as soft and smooth as sanding will.

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Tim , Last year I bought a Fenwick Techna AV from a muskie guide that was "retiring"(???). He had used the rod every day in the summer for 2 years. I had to literally tap the reel seat to get the reel off there was so much crud on it. This guys idea of cleanup was wiping hs grips on his pants leg, needless to say the grips were filthy, almost black. Once I got the reel off I used dishwashing detergent(Dawn) and a clean rag and washed the daylights out of the grips and let them dry, then washed again and let dry. I then applied U40 cork treatment. Grips looked and felt good as new(maybe better). Guide wanted to buy outfit back, but I wanted too much for it. I did get a good deal from him when I bought it but hey my time cleaning it up was worth something.

Wayne
SMCCR ( Six Mile Creek Custom Rods)

Aside from filling in holes and making similar repairs, I have found the best way to bring old cork back to looking new is with either an SOS or Brillo pad. It works wonders!
Tight lines,
Hunter

All above are pretty good deals..... I use a small hand-scrub brush, and either bar soap, or liquid dish soap. The small hand brush has very stiff 'bristles', and is easier to deal with, than a chore-girl type pad, or a square of scotchbrite. The brush permits scrubbing into the (insert latin name here) "pith marks" , whereas the chore girls and brite pads struggle to do this.
If they are still rather black, instead of brown, you can spray with one of those spray cleaners out there: BAM, 409, mildew remover, etc. and let it sit for a bit, to bleach out the stains. Then another pass with the scrub brush, and Bob's yer uncle.
Or: bite the bullet, and turn off 60 thou on the lathe. (about 1/16") Troube is: those stains are usually deeper than that.

Simple green works wonders on a multitude of such problems - try it first - often the simplest solutions are the best... ;) Chuck Ungs