I would like to do some braided cord grips on some fishing rods I plan on building. My question is what are my options to make the rod blank thicker before I put the cord on and should I glue the cord down or what and if I should glue it what would be best for that. Any help with this would be grate. I am new to all of this and Just would like something a little different.

Thanks

Joe,

Cork tape under the cord is the most common method for adding to the grip's diameter.

Tarred seiners twine doesn't need to be glued to keep it from slipping, but it's falling out of favor for cord wrapped rod grips. Other cord like cotton & polyester should be glued to preven slipping, I glue my cord to the cork or blank with a medium to heavy viscosity CA (AKA Super Glue) by applying a couple of beads of it about an inch in front of my cord, then wrapping over it. Some use epoxy, but I find it too messy. I use mostly polyester cord and don't coat it after wrapping. With cotton or cotton/polyester cord, you should coat it with finish after wrapping to prevent stains or mildew.

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California

Or you can simply make a double wrap with your cord.

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

I recently finished two 10 ft surf rods with turks heads instead of a cork foregrip and I like it much better.
I used tuna cord and finished it with one coat of low build and it looks great. The cord usually gets more attention than some of the other grip materials. I say go for it!

MArk, why is the tarred seiners line falling out of favor? IF you were building a rod to be used on the rail, would you use cord, and if so which one?

Billy,

My comment on popularity is based strictly on prior sales ratios. As for rail rods, consumers are just about an even split between a section of Slick Butt VS. Cord. I would use Polyester Cord myself just because it's less likely to slip on the rail and is more durable than cotton cord IMO.

As for double wrapping/layering cord, it just makes it more difficult to keep a uniform diameter at the ends of the wraps.

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California