I just took a new rod out of the dryer. I had trouble getting the rod tight enough in the chuck so that it didn't slip. I wrapped the area of the rod where the 3 screws thightened on the cork with a rubber turniquet. There are now 3 dents in the cork. I am wondering if I can raise these dents with seam or warm water? I did seal this cork with U40. Any ideas?

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

A heat gun works great on regular cork, I am not sure how it will work with the sealer.

I agree with mike on this one with respect to using gentle heat on the rod.

The next time, that you put a rod in a dryer and don't want it to slip, put on about 10 wraps of masking tape. It won't slip, and you won't leave any marks on the rod. It is also a good idea to use the low tack blue painters tape so that you are less likely to leave residue on the cork from the tape.

Also, consider making a new chuck for your dryer. Use a flat bottom pvc pipe cap. Then, take another piece of pvc pipe that is a semi loose fit over the pipe cap. Finally, take a piece of neoprene, punch a 1/2 inch hole in the center of the neoprene. and then stretch the neoprene over the end of the pvc pipe cap. Use the larger piece of pvc pipe to hold the neoprene in place, or do as flex coat does and use a plastic tie, or do as some other builders do, and use an airplane clamp to hold the neoprene in place.

It is still a good idea to do a couple wraps of tape on he end of the rod, so that if there are any black marks left on the rod from the neoprene, the black marks will be on the blue tape and not on the rod. I have never had a rod coming out of a dryer chuck that used the neoprene end on it.

I made a bunch of these chucks a couple of years ago:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I think that the total chuck cost was something like 75 cents a chuck. I searched the internet and found a square yard of neoprene for about $10 which will make many many chucks.

This chuck is available from Flex Coat for about $15 and uses a plastic tie wrap.
[www.flexcoat.com]

Roger



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/2011 07:05PM by roger wilson.

If the heat doesn't work, you may want to try moist heat. If you dent a gun stock and it's not too deep. a hot towel or a few mins. with a clothes steamer will usually pull them out nicely. Best of luck.
Ray Mazza
Midstream Custom Rods

I use a clothes iron. I wrap up the cork with a towel or paper towel and steam it well. BUT I have never done it when it was glued up.

To keep my rods from slipping I wrap a rubber band around the end of rod several times, never had one to slip out of chuck. No residue to worry about at all.
Lewis "Fuzz" Morgan

Lewis,
If you read the original post, it was because the original poster had used a rubber band around the end of the rod to keep it from slipping that caused the cork dents that is the reason for the post.

Good luck
Roger