I have been building rods with foam core grips for the past several months. I've used different weight foam, different sleeve materials and different finishes to 'test' the results. Last month I build two for a customer in Florida. I got a call this morning that one of the grips has a major problem with it. It was a rod built for a 14 year old boy. The failure was the rear grip has three deep "pock" mark indentations in the grip. I was told it looks like three deep thumb marks into it. This grip was built using 5# foam and a fiberglass sleeve. I put at least two coats of MAS fiberglass resin (similar to west systems) on it as well as several coats of finish epoxy. Like all the other grips I've built, they are hard as a rock when I'm done. The kid that owns the rod told his dad that it happened as the rod was standing in the corner of his room untouched. I am going to replace the grip but am concerned about how this happened. It sounds like he crushed it somehow but I don't want to jump to conclusions since I've only been making the foam grips for 3 months. Does anyone have any idea if this can actually happen from some sort of defect in my building process? I've build so many 'test' grips that are laying around my shop that when I look at them today, I can't see any way that it can happen. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The RodMaker article recommended the use of 8lb foam.

Even with 5lb foam, those indentations didn't simply occur naturally. And whatever caused them would also have ruined a cork grip in the same manner.

When you get the rod back you should be able to look at the depressions and tell if anything crushed it as the finish will be marred in that area.

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

"UMMMM Dad, honest, I didn't do ANYTHING to it. It just happened........."

I think that when you get it in your hands, the truth shall set you free.

Kevin

I'll bet he fed his Mogwai after midnight. :)

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

A number of the kids down here (Fl.) use a rod holder(Old Salty) for pier fishing and they will mess up grips if not used correctly-EVA -Cork or foam
John

It would be very difficult to mess up a properly made carbon skinned grip in a rod holder. We're talking about something that is pretty darn hard. When we mention the use of urethane foam, we're not talking about something like EVA - this stuff, at least in the 8lb and up density, is rigid.

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

Tom, I've made some out of 5# foam that is hard enough to drive a nail into something. For the life of me, I can't figure out how it could get damaged. A friend of mine who knows the kid that has the rod suggested that it could have been left in a car and exposed to high head under the rear car glass. I don't think the glass could produce enough heat to cause damage.

That foam doesn't soften from heat, once cured, it's there.

You'll just have to take a look at it and see what you can discover.

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

Dave Orr,

Good answer, and hilarious to boot!!! I almost fell off my chair!! I needed a good chuckle today, but that one produced a deep BELLY LAUGH!!!!

Bill in WV

William
I was wondering if anyone would get it. :)

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

Yep. the GREMLINS are definately at work!!! LOL

Bill in WV

Brandan,

Did you use Vacuum Bagging ?

Reasons to use vacuum:
Better uniformity of lay up (No thick / thin cross sections)
Stronger finished product (Higher glass to resin ratio)
Better Strength to weight ratio


Ben

I have not tried vacuum bags. I may give it a try but I don't think it would have helped this situation. I'm expecting to see some sort of abuse when I get the rod back.