Making some grips out of cork and EVA. Had them sanded down but wanted to make the foregrip a real small diameter. Got down to 150, then 220 grit and the EVA starts to shred? It looks rough, like I just hit it with sandscreen. No matter how fine the sandpaper I use I still leaves a rough finish on the EVA. Do I need to wet sand it at this point?

Thanks!

Nevermind. Figured it out myself. ;)

Thanks!

What was it?

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Lets start guessing before he replys back ! I say speed hes spining it to fast creating heat and it grabs to much on the EVA ...thats my guess ...Ive never sanded it before my self!

Rick H.

rwheil@msn.com

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Friction from teh EVA dust settled on teh surface of te EVA. He wiped it off with a rag and it was perfect?

the eva went out of round, and the elliptical surface was grabbing heavily?

LoL.

My theory, after looking at the grips for a while is that too much heat reacts with the gluing agent and causes the eva to come off in tiny pieces as opposed to dust. Like the EVA just breaks away instead of sands down. ?

I'm using a cheap hand drill and have to sit on the grip for a while to get it down. Gone at it with wet sand 600 and still looks rough.

These EVA inlays were glued with wood glue. The ones I have done with CC havent reacted this way.

So a combination of the wood glue reacting to too much heat on EVA. I think. ha.

I have had success sanding them down with a sanding sponge. Mostly just putting a bevel on a cut edge....they look like factory edges when I am done....that may be a little too much work for what you are doing though.

These EVA inlays were glued with wood glue. The ones I have done with CC havent reacted this way.

So a combination of the wood glue reacting to too much heat on EVA. I think. ha.



Glue / not heat me thinks. I regularly turn EVA at high speed on a wood lathe without experiencing the "chunking" you describe.

Ken, you use CC for the binding?

CC is generally used for EVA/Hypalon/Fom for the best bond and absence of glue lines.

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!!

what about putting eva to cork? CC?

Adam, I use contct cement on a few rods I did wiht cork rings as well as cork ellipticals & inlays. YOu MUST use 2 coats, the first coat soaks in and needs a second or the bond isn't as strong as it could be.

Thanks Billy. Seams like the CC def. has a stronger bond. I was able to pry some stuff apart on the wood glue, tried it on CC and couldnt pull it apart without going crazy on it. By the way your work gave me the nerve to try grips. I came across some stuff you did in 2004/2005, and I couldnt believe how awesome it was back then. 2011 and I'd love to have one set come out like your work 6 years ago. I'm using pretty low quality tools, hand drill and sand paper but it's still a lot of fun.

Really appreciate all the help here.

Adam -
Billy gave you the scoop. Yes, contact cement - when done right works very well. The only place I use wood or epoxy glues are on really hard surfaces - and that may be more out of woodworking habit than anything else.

Adam, I'm glad to hear that thank you. In 2004/5 I was doing grips for 5 years already, so I had a head start. Believ eme there were a lot of not so good results, that's how I learned - don't feel bad. I'm NOT recommending to use CC for gluing cork rings, even though I do it I do not know ho wit holds up long term and with abuse. I am confidant my rods are not coming apart, but I would hate to be responsible if someone else took my advice and in 2 years the cork split apar (I dont think that is possible, but you never know?)

Billy,
I presume if you use contact cement for cork rings that you do not have to clamp them ? Or do you anyhow? I`m sure that would take away the possibility of glue lines too.

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

No clamping, I just press teh rings together as tightly as I can lining them up on a mandrel. Again, I'm suggesting people test this before doing it on a rod!!! And 2 coats are a MUST, can't stress that enough.

I'm ordering some unbored square cork blocks from MAr Ktruz, and plan on doing some of hte grips I do in EVA in cork. All will be glued up wiht CC.

Wasnt aware you already had 5 years under your belt. To be honest I had not seen a custom EVA grip on a rod until I got into the craft so to see that grips like yours were already being made 5-6 years ago was pretty surprising. For me. And cool.

Regarding cork rings soaking up the CC. I was thinking of using a push pin to lightly create some holes where the CC will be placed. Think this will help the ring soak up the CC better? Or not necessary with 2 coats?

Really excited to see what you make with the square cork blocks.

I glued up some cork rings and eva strips using gorilla wood glue dries clear.
have not had any trouble yet.Put glue on both sides and clamped them together.
My test piece was really hard to break,matter of fact it broke the cork first.
mikeb

Home Town,Gretna VA