I got some of this in ID .984 to go on a rod with a butt OD .63. It says it will shrink 30-50% of original ID. Now that I have recieved this material it appears to be way to big. Will it shrink enough to be used with this rod or do I have to re-order?

Let's fish,
Chris

Oh yeah,
And what is the best way to shrink this stuff?

Let's fish,
Chris

It should shrink to almost 1/2 it's size. At least the brand we sell does.

If you have doubts, trim an inch off of it's length if you can spare it, put it on the smallest diameter of the blank where it will be applied and put the heat to it.

A hair dryer on high should do it, but a heat gun's faster. Don't try it with a torch.

You're not putting it directly ON the blank are you?

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2007 09:11PM by Mark Griffin.

With this type material, you have the option of doing an underwrap or underwind with cord. Something to provide some "texture" or finger grips, such as an X wind. Then, shrink the material over the cord wrap. It's a good product.

...............

X wind, where can I find it or can I make my own? I haven't applied it yet, I was going to ask if I need to do something to the inside.

Let's fish,
Chris

Tom's just talking about cord like Butt Cord.

There are some things you need to know and do before you just shrink the tube on there, but that varies by grip style. What ever you're doing, you're probably going to want some cushion between the tube & the blank or it's not going to be very comfortable. There's no give to the shrink tube at all. It's more of a cover than a raw grip. 90% of it's installed over cork tape or foam tape so it's not so harsh on your hands. Cord over cork tape is pretty common under X-Flock.

Before you get any further, what kind of grip are you building? Is there a seat involved, or are you doing a deckhand style grip?

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California

Cut a small test piece, place it on blank, and shrink it. That will tell you for sure if it will shrink enough. I use this material often on heavy surf rods (heavers).

Make sure the flock pattern is lined up as needed, not twisted, or offset from the axis of the the guides. I like to use a thin coat of rod finish on the rod blank before shrinking the material down using a commercial grade heat gun. Cinch down the ends next to the reel seat with thread and finish.

Lou

I was hoping to use a plate seat with it.
I am not going to put this rod together for probably another couple of weeks. I am going to the ISE in Sac and I am going to meet up with someone. I don't want build it until I come back with some more info. It will be the third rod I have built.

Let's fish,
Chris

try pouring hot water over it if you dont want to put a heat gun near your blank. it may take a bit longer but you can be sure you dont `burn `the blank (or the shrink tube) i use the stuff all the time on my surf rods (a lot heavier than the us models my blanks are 13 foot long 8 oz and 32mm in diameter) i gently sand the ends and wrap onto the tube then fininsh with epoxy as you would when finishing a butt wrap

never had a problem direct on the blank (neither have daiwa or ABU) do a search for a rod from daiwa called a supercast and youll see the effect

Chris,

My product, Nu-Skin Rod Armor does have a 50% shrink factor. I recommend the use of a hot air gun, the ones used for paint stripping. A hair dryer will work as long as the blower is on the low speed setting. My product has minimal longitudinal shrinkage. It comes in 4 different sizes to fit all applications from small diameter surf blanks to large diameter foregrips. It can be used in the repair of cork tape, cork rings, hypalon or EVA. It can also be used in the assembly of a new rod.

I also supply a 2 tape products specifically designed to attach the Rod Armor to the blank. The first is a thin closed cell foam tape which will give a new application a softer feel for use directly on the blank. The second is a flat Mylar tape for use when repairing existing rods. Both tape products are designed not to break down the PE base material of the Nu-Skin Rod Armor.

I have numerous rod manufactures using the Nu-Skin Rod Armor in their product process. It is also being used widely on the fresh water bass tournament trail on their rods to increase the grip.

If you have any specific questions, call me at the shop at 626-963-1142.

Tim Campbell
Swifty Manufacturing
(626) 963-1142

Tim mentions "minimal longitudinal shrinking" which raises a question I've been wanting to ask some of you who've been using the shrink-tube products. How do you calculate the longitudinal shrinkage in order to ensure proper fit to the reel seat, fighting butt, etc?

thanks,
Clyde

Clyde,

The bulk raw material manufacture I buy my raw PE tube from prior to processing states a 3% longitudinal shrinkage. I have found that because the material is thicker that most products on the market, the product will shrink less than 1/4" for every 12".

I have also developed a spray adhesive kit that you can use under the Nu-Skin Rod Armor that dries over a 15 minute time frame and is slippery enough for you to reposition the Rod Armor. There are other applications for this adhesive that I will be introducing. This was one on the new products I was going to announce and release at the Rod Building Expo.

Clyde twisted my arm and made me tell!!!


Tim Campbell
Swifty Manufacturing
(626) 963-1142

Tim, thanks... see you next month!

clyde