Have anyone built handles using "syncork" that is available from Thorne Brothers in Fridley, MN.

I talked to the chemist who holds the patent on the process. He has apparently came up with a process that is using expanded resin plastic to make foam rings, that glue like cork, machine like cork, and are about 10% lighter than typical cork.
Of course, since it is man made and injected into molds for manufacture, there are 0 voids in the rings.

They have experimented with a few different colors, buy mainly only have black currently available.

They found in their testing a couple of years ago, that the black color held up best to the use and hard work of the hard core fisherman. i.e. black doesn't show any grime from prolonged use.

Further information can be obtained from Thorne Brothers.

Take care
Roger

It would be interesting, but if you could dispense with the rings entirely, and simply make a full grip in one pass, such as we're doing with the urethane foam you could save a lot of time and trouble. Then again, I've not seen them and many might want the "ring" appearance.

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

I asked about it here...

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I have seen the cork and talked to a person that has turned it. It leaves a rougher texture than cork, it also turns much harder than cork. I know that many musky fisherman will pay a premium for the syncork because it will hold up better in a rod holder than cork and eva for trolling. It is as light as cork, but looks different almost like a burl with a shinny hue. I think Tom is right it would be nice to get it in 1.5" to 2" square blocks and turn it from there, but I think it's only available in rings up to 2".

That it comes in rings would allow for adding burl or rings of some the other nontraditional type materials like the cork tile discs.

Here is another link from "thorne brothers" with a bit of an advertising blurb for the product as well as a picture of a completed rod in use.

[www.thornebros.com]

REW

I am one of two builders that have been using syncork ever since it came out. I have built fly, walleye, bass, musky and salmon rods using syncork with positive results.

The process of building a rod is the same but you do need special tools to sand and ream it. Syncork is the strongest form of handle material on the market today and the characteristics of syncork remain the same in any kind of weather. Only bad review I have heard is the color but the folks I build for are looking for a better tool rather then something traditional and it is my belief that Syncork makes a fishing rod better. Time will tell if others feel the same.

There are other colors coming in the future. I believe it is only a matter of time before a major rod manufactor catches onto syncork.

Keith