I got to thinking this morning about grips for my next rod. Somehow I started thinking about deer hunting. Also how my knife with a stacked leather handle feels very comfortable in my hand and is not slippery when covered in blood. I was curious if anyone here has built rods with leather grips. I know they'll be heavier than cork, but it'll be for a heavy rod. Thanks,
Matt

We have an article in the works but for now all I can tell you is that it is heavier than cork but lighter than most hardwoods.

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

maybe it would be lighter if glued onto a foam core handle

Bill - willierods.com

When you say "stacked" are you refering to disks cut, stacked and glued...similar to a birch birch handle? I've got some scrap tanned deer hide and I've been toying with the idea of making a grip from it. Not sure what kind of finish to use or even if it any is needed. I look forward to seeing Tom's story when it appears in Rodmaker.

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

Thanks for the input. I was thinking about over boring and using a foam core. Seems like the best way to me. It would essentially be like a birch bark handle, many thin disks compressed and glued together, same set up as a Ka-Bar knife handle. My curiosity was peaked so I wound up on knife making boards. It seems that one method is to cut tooling leather into 2 inch squares and punch a hole in the middle. Soak the leather in water, load them onto a threaded rod between washers, tighten the @#$%& out of it and let dry. Once dry, contact cement all pieces together and then back between the washers to dry again. Turn, seal, and finish.

I imagine that if you don't use a very fine grit sandpaper to finish the grip that it would leave a slightly knappy finish that would be perfect for a fish slimed handle. I'll give it a shot and let you all know, might be a few weeks though.
Matt



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2011 04:25PM by Matt Wegener.

Oh
I thought you were laying over a core of some sort My bad

Bill - willierods.com

Baseball glove oil?

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