I'm thinking about trying out some x-flock on a rod for myself to give a good checking in to before I start offering it on rods that I sell. My question is how the heck do I get it to adhere to the handle? lol I thought it would be some of the shrink tube that would have the glue on the inside already but I guess i should have done a little more research before spending money. What are you guys using? I would assume a light coat of some rod bond would be OK but I figured it would be better to ask before I waste the money that I spent without doing enough research lol.

David Page
E-town, KY.

Spray can glue. I think 3m make it. I was kind of leery about using rodbond and then applying heat.

No glue on the inside but it does shrink down onto the rod when you hit it with a torch. If you order the right size it should shrink on pretty tight

David; Check this out, from Batson.
[clients.criticalimpact.com]

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Barge Cement.
Works for me.

You can use double sided tape
A buddy of mine used mounting tape to increase the overall diameter and to add some cushion to the handle. It comes in 60" rolls. Bought it at an office supply store

I'm with Lou.
I used an EVA foregrip, cut the tubing to length (allow a little extra so it contours), then a coat of spray adhesive. From there a little work with a heat gun and it came out very nice. When shrinking down the ends, I kept heat on them after it fully shrunk, and would then press the ends against a flat surface. Formed up well in my opinion.

Very good gentlemen, that's the info that I needed. Still curious though if anyone's tried just little dabs of rod bond around the handle before you put the x-flock on? Seems like it would work but if the spray on stuff is easier then that's how I'll go for sure.

David Page
E-town, KY.

I picked up this tip from a guy on another forum. It worked well for me. Apply double sided tape to the area you are covering. Fold up one end of the xflock to seal it and pour in a little denatured alcohol. Shake it around in the tube and dump it out. Immediately slide the tube onto the rod. This will help the x flock to slide easily over the double sided tape. Let it dry for 5 - 10 minutes then apply heat to shrink the wrap. The x flock fits pretty snug on it's own so just a little adhesive should get the job done.

The only thing I would worry about with rod bod is small lumps. When I used the tape method, there were some small gaps between the wraps of tape. I didn't think the gaps would show through the x flock but if you look closely they do.

G'day David,

I haven't used Rod Bond specifically but another epoxy glue. I just brushed it thinly over the whole cork grip, slid the X-Shrink on hit it with the heat gun. Worked fine and is still going strong.

Cheers

Jason