I am confused about burl cork- I used to buy burl cork rings and always got a product that looked good, had some character from graining/the borders of the chunks of cork/some variability in color throughout the piece. I had to be careful not to mix rings from different "batches" as they might be lighter or darker, but it was pretty uniform and good looking. Treating it with cork preservative or tru oil would darken it a little and bring out the character.

Last burl I bought was so uniform it had no "character," no graining, just a very fine and uniform finish. So fine and uniform it almost looks like that old cork composition cheap rod handle we used to get on the truly bottom of the line rods (40-50 years ago-not sure if it still exists). This material structually is fine, it just doesn't look very good in my opinion. It is too uniform and fine. Cork preservative does very little to it.

Any idea what the two types I describe represent? And specifically what do I buy next that will have some "character" as I describe it?

thanks

Depends on the vendor and where they're getting it. The older type was made from slivers and random pieces of burl cork. The newer type, often sold under the name "burl" is a composition cork made from ground bits and pieces. It reminds me of chipboard.

About all you can do is ask your vendor what the stuff he's selling looks like and go from there. Send him a photo of what you're after and that way he/she will have a good idea of what it is that you're looking for.

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

I like to mix a little burnt rings in with "regular" cork rings. I think this adds a little character. It comes in 1/4 or 1/2 inch.

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

Michael,
Are you sure that you didn't receive "rubberized cork", as opposed to Burled cork?

Rubberized cork is made from ground up cork and has a fairly fine and uniform finish.

Burl cork on the other hand is made from chunks of cork and tends to have a much more irregular and more of a character appearance.

Take care
Roger

No on the rubberized cork; I am familiar with it and use it on the butts of my rods. It is burl, was ordered as burl, and looks like chipboard as Tom mentioned. My older burl is the kind you mention with uneven size chunks that provide the appearance you suggest, which I like better than the very uniform appearance. The stuff I don't like has very uniform and small chunk size with absolutely no voids.