Starting June 1st, we will begin offering the Exotic Burl material in 1.5" x 12" long strips. The strips will be available in all 4 patterns and all 3 thicknesses. I had been thinking about this for sometime, however I was unsure whether there was a demand for the material in strip form. Recent dialogue with Billy Vivona and Joe Emig, have convinced me to do this....and I think it will open up TONS of design possibilities for some very unique and creative grip ideas.
I am really looking forward to seeing some of the designs you guys come up with.

Look for posts from our distributors indicating they have it in stock in the next 10-14 days.


Best Regards,

Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing

Great!!!!!

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 got some good ideas already.

Me too Jim !!!

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!

Bill in WV

Oh gosh....Andy is creating monsters out here..

Give a new meaning to the term "exotic strip club" for sure! LOL

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

I was going to title this post "Strip Tease" but I wasn't sure if it would be apropriate or not!

Yeah, I think this is going to blow handle design wide open. I am really excited to see what y'all do with it.


Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing

YOu guys with bandsaws will be pleased to know you can cut the cork into about .030" (not sure the fraction) and have some super thin trim ring. You'll also be able to use them like wood veneer, similar to what MArk Blabaum has been posting lately. TEh burnt cork color will provide an outline...it's sharp as can be and in a materil that most people prefer to use (instead of wood). I'm waiting for my 4-Jaw chuckto arrive & some free time to put together the grip I have planned.

Andy, I'm glad you went ahead with this.

Andy - I have a couple of plans for this already, I look forward to it's becoming available. I myself am used to working with square stock, it makes it much easier to make elipticals and checkers from square stock than round. I think that you have a winner with this product. Thanks Mark.

There was a cork ring cutting jig in the "Tools" section of RodMaker a few issues back that allowed you to cut rings into very thin sections (or thicker if you wish). Two small scrap boards, a hole saw and a short piece of PVC pipe is all that is required.

Not that the new strips won't be great, just that there is a simple and easy way to get thin rings if you want those too.

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

For those not sure what you could do with a 1/2" thick sheet of cork, here's a pic: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Cutting thin trim rings is one thing, having a thin sheet of veneer opens up a whole new avenue for grips. We'll be able to make grips with designs such as this out of cork: [www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[classiccustomwood.com]
[classiccustomwood.com]

FYI,
We already offer this material in a thickness slightly less than 1/8" thick.....it's pretty thin, and I doubt you could cut it any thinner w/o a lot of hassle


Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing