Gonna try some split grips on my steelhead rods. But the EVA I have has holes all the way through it. What do I do with the butt end piece?

Fit a butt cap of your choice

Or run the grip just past the butt of the rod and plug the hole with an EVA or Cork plug punched with a thin walled brass tube.

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

Do one of these: [www.rodbuilding.org]

DR

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Depending on the dia of the hole, I use a pistol or rifle case to cut a plug a little larger than the hole in the EVA. Take your pocket knife and ream the inner edge of the brass casing. It will sharpen the mouth of the case better than filing the outside edge.Cut a slug through the side of a piece of EVA grip, epoxy it in, smooth it down, your done. If an ammo case is too small, use a copper fitting of the diameter needed. Fittings are stiffer than tubing so that works better for me.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

All excellent ideas, thanks!!!

How do those epoxied inlays hold up to being set on the ground? Or is that a nono now that you've done that to them?

John,

I make mine encased in solid epoxy and they hold up very well. Yes they get scuffed up a little over time, but still look just fine.

DR

I inlay something (button, coin, etc in almost all my grips (wood, cork, EVA and acrylic It's very easy to do [www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Or, if you want quick ans easy, use a Rubber "Butt Plug", here is a link;
[www.schneidersrods.com]

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Even more good ideas. Thanks, Is there a tutorial on how to create those end inlays? I like the shotgun shell end one a lot! I'll have to make one for those days we go waterfowl hunting and fishing at the same time.) I have the vol2-9 cd, I haven't had a chance to read a lot of them yet. Are they in there by chance?

Thanks again!

I either just use a Forstner bit on it to cut the recess or a parting tool on the lathe. Glue the piece in and fill with finish (I use Threadmaster) On the shotgun shell, I just jut the shell part of and buffed up the piece. Any fabric place (JoAnns) is a gold mine for cool buttons that are perfect. So are golf ball markers

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Rubber butt plugs ! Thanks Scott, I didn't know you had them ! That is the trick if you don't want to inlay something. Got to get some.

If the hole is the right size, I will use the end of a fired cartridge. I have a good supply of 9mm and .357 from my own shooting, and every time I go to the range I pick up other calibers. I cut the very end off with a Dremel cut off wheel, and just Rod Bond it into the hole.
A couple of customers have actually given me fired cartridges from their own guns, to make the rods even more "custom."