Just got a preform grip and noticed that the voids in the cork where fill in. I just wonder how long the filler will last? Anyone have trouble with cork filler material loosening and falling out? Bill

Best bet is to use a cork sealer such as made by Trondak, I prefer a minimum of two coats of Birchwood-Casey Trul Oil. I have six year old rods where the cork handles look as good as new. BCTO will darken the cork.

I have had acceptable results filing a cork from the hardware store into cork dust and stirring it thoroughly into mixed Rodbond. If you use enough cork dust in the mix the patch blends in nicely. The Rodbond matrix insures that the patch will outlive the rest of the grip. Once it hardens* the cork dust / Rodbond mix is easily sanded to conform with the grip, so the gaps can be overfilled to begin with.
*a major benefit of Rodbond is that it always maintains a degree of flexability

Most of what is available commercially (pre-formed grips) is going to come out, sooner or later. When that happens the grip will look a lot less attractive than it does now, but will still continue to function just fine.

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

Do not apply Trondak Cork Seal and then attempt to top with @#$%& True Oil. There is a small amount of solvent in the Cork Seal that will prevent the True Oil from curing. It will be sticky forever. One good coating of the Cork Seal is all that is required. It will slightly darken the surface and does a pretty good job of locking the filler in place. Do not wipe the sanding dust off with an alcohol soaked rag prior to applying the Cork Seal.

If you really want to tie filler up to last forever just Flock It!

Here is a a link to some pretty interisting pictures of preformed cork - take a look.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Gon Fishn



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2008 05:58PM by Bill Stevens.

What Bill said.

If you don't want to use Cork Seal, try spar varnish. But again, don't put any kind of oil over it.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods