Re: applying cork tape
Posted by:
Tom Kirkman
(Moderator)
Date: July 11, 2010 07:07PM
Clean the blank - there is no reason to sand anything nor apply epoxy to it.
You'll need about 3.5 times as much tape as the length of the handle you plan to wrap. For a 2 foot handle, pull off about 7 feet of tape. This is generally more than enough unless the blank is a very, very large diameter, say more than 1 inch in OD.
Remove only a few inches of the backing from the adhesive. LIghtly stick the tape to the blank at the butt and make a revolution to figure the right angle. You may have to do this a couple or three times to get it right. Once you do, begin winding the tape, removing more of the backing as you go.
Keep the tape wound snugly against itself. Expect to make slight adjustments by hand as you go, turning the tape slightly to keep the edges against each other.
Wrap a piece of masking tape around each end when done. Use this as a straightedge to cut the tape square. You can secure the ends of the tape with heat shrink tape or make a double layer of size D over the ends. On the foregrip, you'll find it best to sand a taper on the edge with an emery board. Then start a wrap on the blank and wrap up and over the edge. Finish as usual.
Others who use cork tape will probably offer their own methods.
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