I'm trying to find out how to make something similar to the Kistler Helium handle. The one I'm talking about is maybe a heavy thread or very light cord. Its wrapped on the split grip handle and its fairly rough. I don't like them, but I have a request for one similar to that. Anyone know how to make something like that? Is it simply a small diameter cord wrap with some kind of epoxy to harden it? Thanks for any info.

Gone Fishin

Gon Fishn Calling Gone Fishin!!

Similar - (email me for some trickery)

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Gon Fishn

Sorry if I wasn't clear, its the Helium II LTX that I am asking about

Gone Fishin

I have felt those handles and have wondered how they were made also. I am not sure but here is what it feels like to me. Seems like they may use the new "foam" material that was discussed in rodmaker magazine a few issues ago. Then remember in elementary school when you would take newspaper and soak it in some oatmealy mixture and then slap it on an inflated balloon, then once the newspaper and oatmealy mixture dried you would stick a needle in and pop the balloon? Thats what i think Kistler did, they used urethane foam then some sort of threaded/corded mixture to coat the foam?

I dont know if this is what they did but thats my best guess. It could even be cork or eva with the threaded mixture over top?

-Mike

They seem fairly hard, so I doubt it's eva underneath.

Here's what Kistler says on their website.
Our new proprietary solid, ultra-lightweight material throughout the newly designed handle will allow for even more sensitivity, allowing you to feel bites like never before.

what ever it is sure makes the custom rod building world look bad. That stuff kicks butt, to me it ends the need for a cork substitute and just puts EVA on the back burner. To bad we dont have access to it I have felt from the first time i saw and tried it this was the stuff that we need instead of grasping at all kinds of hoaky ways to obtain something less expensive than cork and just as good as cork.

It's probably a skinned foam, overwrapped or flocked with the grippy material.

Henry,

Readers of RodMaker Magazine have long had a superior material to what Kistler is using. The custom rod building craft was way ahead of them, and other manufacturers, all along.

Lighter than cork, far less expensive than cork, in many ways, better than cork.

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

Tom,
Please, refesh my memory. MORE INFO!! To which issue are you referring?

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

Urethane foam can be had in various densities/weights. It can be skinned, cord wrapped, painted, texture coated, flocked, etc. The possibilities are almost endless.

This is the sort of thing that I spoke about in the last issue concerning "custom" rod building. There is no way any of the commercial manufacturers can outdo a forward thinking, inventive custom rod builder. You can make anything "one-off" right in your own shop. The major manufacturers have too many things to consider, only so much that can sourced per the expected sales volume, and generally a once a year new intro period.

The only thing that holds back most custom builders is themselves. Not knocking anybody here, but we all have a tremendous advantage over the commercial rod makers when it comes to possible innovations.

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

I knew that was foam a long time ago before the rods even were out i had the chance to play with them at the rockland show here in new york a few years ago. The rep simply told me it was foam under the black stuff. Its the flocking he would not say a word about.

The flocking they are doing that is the end all be all. Also i guessed at it while i was holding the rods like many here said it looks like thread covered with some kind of protectant or hardener.

It's an adhesive combined with a texturing agent.

...........

Thanks to all, still not 100% on how to do them, but that may be the company secret. Just trying to get close to the texture, and I've plenty of ideas. Any more info is welcome of course. Thanks again to all.

Bill Stevens has been doing it for awhile and has posted about it. He mixes flock with the flock adhesive and applies it over a foam grip

[www.rodbuilding.org]

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 have always liked the Helium LTX handles. I guess it is time for me to pour foam. Especially since I do it at work anyway...

Anthony
AKRods