I am wanting to stain the last cork rings on either end of a fly handle. I am just not sure teh best way to go about it. Can I stain them before I shape the handle and retain the color, or do I have to do it when the handle is done? I am using a purple MINWAX stain that I got from Home Depot. And when it's done do I have to seal it with anything or can I just leave it or will it fade too much? Thanks for the input.

Brant Widness

Any success I have had with staining came when the handle was already shaped to what I wanted. I have never tried staining prior to turning the handle down but I would suppose that the stain does not penetrate the cork surface very deeply, therefore I think if you tried to shape it after staining you would turn off the stain you have put on, IMHO.

Secondly, I believe you would be wise to seal your cork after you stain it if keeping the stained coloured effect is what you are after. I believe that althought it would likely take a fair amount of time to fade off, I believe it would and there start changing the effect you were origianlly trying to achieve.

S.A. Lynas

Steve Lynas

Yes, definitely stain after you shape and finish.

Also, I usually stop at 220 grit for any rings I'm going to stain. The finer grits cause the cork to accept less stain, just like wood. Seal with cork seal or tru oil.

Terry

I would also burnish the stain in with a old nylon stocking
Good Wraps Bob

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate the information.

Brant Widness