Hello, I'm starting to play around with some carbon composite grips. I'll be ordering the back-issue of Rodmaker but in the meantime I had a few questions:

1) If I mold a urethane foam base around the blank will the bond be strong enough or should it be built seperately and epoxied to the blank?

2) How does everyone feel about the gloss finish of the grip? Does it get too slippery from water, fish slime, sweat? Is there a recommended way to produce a matte finish to keep it from getting slippery? I was thinking of wet sanding but not real crazy about it.

3) Is there a weight advantage over cork grips?

Thanks for any insight,

Steve

I think you'll prefer making the grips off the rod and installing them. Too much mess and too much room for error trying to make it right on the rod. And the foam is tenacious - get it all over your rod blank and you won't likely get it off without ruining the blank finish.

How hard something is to hold onto has little to do with a gloss finish and everything to do with how its shaped. Check the RodMaker article on bio-mechanics and grip/handle ergonomics.

Well made foam core grips in either 4lb or 8lb (I prefer the 8lb) fitted with a single layer of the lightweight carbon skin, will weigh just a tad less than the same size and shape grip in cork.

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" Check the RodMaker article on bio-mechanics and grip/handle ergonomics. "

Just checking - is that RodMaker volume 10, #3?

Thanks,
Rick

Yes.

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Thanks Tom, You confirmed some of what I had been thinking. I'm still curious about a matte finish though, not just for feel but for looks. Maybe the epoxy resin manufacturer has a way? I'm finishing up the molds tonight :) Thanks again,

Steve

You may want to read the article first. Not sure what type of molds you're making, but this stuff has to be able to expand.

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I understand how the foam works from boat repairs and other projects, wasn't sure about the bonding strength though. I'm pretty sure my molds are gonna work for now. I'm going to order the back-issure tonight anyway. Thanks

Steve

Tom, I ordered 7-3, 10-3 and 10-6 tonight along with a new subscription. Funny... someone could learn a lot just from the covers of the magazines! Can't wait!! Thanks

Steve

It bonds with tremendous strength. Try not to get any on you or you'll be wearing it for some time.

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