For those of you who have done some grips, please poke your heads into the photo area and let me know if I am on track. IS this what I shoudl be seeing? What is my next step(s)?

Terry,
Keep in mind that I have NOT done any grips with the foam and skins. I did read the article several time through however. As I recall,the skin gets tucked BEFORE applying any covering finish. Thats what the picture you posted tells me as well. But what do I know? I just read the article and haven't made any,as I previously mentioned.
Chuck

Terry, That looks great. The reason you tuck the ends in is to get the end reliefs to look good and tight. you achieved that with the shrink wrap! There is no need to tuck anything now. You would just ream it out later anyhow. To cut the ends, I have been turning on the lathe and laying a fine toothed Exacto saw against it. Still turning, sanding the whole thing just into the carbon and then applying finish.

Terry is working from instructions in the Volume 11 #2 issue - he's using a different technique than the "tuck" method.

All that needs to be done at this point is to part off the ends just beyond the edge of the core. That leaves you with a rounded edge, covered with the carbon skin. The foam will show in the center of the grip but will be covered by a winding check, butt cap or reel seat.

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what is the "Skin made from" may i ask as I cant find any info on them

also tom can that spray foam in a can (the stuff used to seal gaps in windows etc) be used for foam cores

Cheers
allen

The skin in question here is carbon sleeving.

The stuff in the cans is rather soft and in my opinion does not make a suitable grip core material.

Volume 10 #6 RodMaker has all the details.

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kk thanks tom

Terry if that grip is used in your demo in August be sure to mount it up on one of the St Croix blue blanks. They should all drool at the appearance and feel of the new grip surfaces you are doing. Thanks for giving all of us a preview - looking good!

Gon Fishn

Terry I like idea of a shrink wrap to form the handles. What are you using for a shrink wrap? Is it easy to take off after the epoxy sets? I'm looking forward to seeing you this August, I'd like to see some of the new handles up close. Mark

Whats happening in August?

RodMaker Volume 11 #1 has the instructions Terry is working from. It's in the Q&A column.

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Terry is presenting a seminar on foam core, carbon skinned grips. I'm working with him so he can learn the process and how to actually do them.


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Mark, the shrink wrap doesn't "form" the handles per say. The forming part is already done pre. What the shring tubing does is "suck" the carbon up against the handle in a fashion such as wearing a sock. Very easy to take off. Very. Simply sear it with a blade and peel like and orange. To filet a fish is harder than removing the shrink tubing sleeve!!!! Isn't that right Tom!

Yes, the tubing comes off very easily. You just have to be careful not to cut into the skin when scoring the tubing.

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