I am trying to make a handle with some checkerboard rings that I have made, to get some color inthe ckeckerboard I have to use the real dark rings, when I sand the rings into shape my regular cork rings
get discolored, I can clean them up a lot by washing in MEK but still very dark from the sanding , how do you get it back the light color ? or do I just have to live with it, or don't use the dank rings .
ANY HELP OUT THERE,? I have a cork slicer & checkerboard cutting jig sold by a large rod supply house on the eastcoast , have cut the rings in lots of sizes an wedges but when I but them to gether to get some color I have to use the dark cork rings, an I am back in the same boat the dark cork dust impregnates the light color rings , show me the light if there is any on this problem or should I just stay with the light rings an stay away from the colored rings??
SID

William,
You have hit on a pretty common problem that has few solutions.

One thing that I do, BEFORE - doing any washing with a liquid, is to use high pressure air from my air compressor powered blow gun.

When you leave the handle spinning on the lathe, all bolted together, and hit it with the high pressure air, you can blow most of the dark dust out of the light rings.

I would do this several times, perhaps doing it with the handle spinning in both directions to clear the grain and holes that might be in the rings. Just take the handle out of the lathe, and flip it end for end to have it spin in the opposite direction.

Then, I use alcohol and a tooth brush to go over the spinning handle to clean up the rest of the cork, Generally the spinning handle, alcohol and tooth brush will clean up the rest of the residue. Remember, if you have the handle spinning at 3600 rpm, there is a lot of outward force to cast out the dark sanding particles, if they get loosened up with the Algol and tooth brush.

You just have to continue trying a few different methods until you get the results that you want.

But - start with compressed air on a fast spinning handle and I think that you will solve most of your problems.

Take care
Roger

as you sand just clean the spinning piece with a paper towel to remove the dust. when you get to a final finish use a clean piece of paper towel or rag to clean the dust. you have to be careful with light colored pieces(it doesnt matter if you are using eva,cork,or wood)

I have not tried building grips with checkerboard rings yet, so don't know if this will work for your problem. I have had great success cleaning cork and foam grips on well used rods, with dish soap and a soft toothbrush. Wet the toothbrush with water, pour the soap on the brush, and scrub the grip. if things get a little dry, wet the toothbrush again. Then rinse in water. You may have to do this several times to get everything off.

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

I tried it out on some not so good rings an it improved greatly I can live with it, thanks for the help

BILL

I have been doing custom cork grips for a long time now and have trail and errors. I do checkering, kings crown, cork inlays of logo's fish etc. As I am sanding the cork I use a air gun and shoot the cork several times as I am sanding and several times in between. i will than use a terry cloth with alcohol and wipe the cork several times and will also use an old toothbrush or a paint brush ( cut the bristles really short so it it stiff but soft. With all that all my corks dark and natural always come out clean. Right after I seal the whole grip with cork seal. If I have a custom inlay, logo, name, graphics in the cork. I will blow everything off and clean it with alcohol and put 2 lite coats of epoxy on it and put it on the rod dryer. I hope this helped. I have tried everything and this method works for me and I hope it works for u. Thank you David Aiello