I just purchased some regular Elmer's interior/exterior wood filler from a mom and pop hardware store. Will this work?

I've noticed that Mudhole sells Elmers tinted Golden Oak color wood filler...do I need this color or does it matter? The stuff I got looks roughly like the color of cork.

Give it a shot, cork color can vary, Golden Oak seems to be a very close match for most cork or a least blends in very well.

Sam,
A very nice match. i.e. Elmer's golden Oak filler.
I have been using this filler for the last several years and it just seems to work very well.

Be safe
REW

Try our PitPaste, it is darker in color but when put on the grips in the small cavities it blends very well and is much better then the elmers product. in that it dries harder and is more durable.

Scott Parsons
919-900-8998
[www.roddancer.com]
[www.fishhawkthreads.com]

I have used both and prefer the PitPaste. I does blend well, easy to work with and dries fast. I always put Cork Seal or Tru Oil on the grip after I finish filling and sanding for durability.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

I have never figured out why anyone would want to fill the natural pores of a cork handle, unless it was a large gap that would eventually cause problems. I think the small striations in the cork give it character and feel. A total waste of time as far as I am concerned.

I have never figured out why anyone would want to fill the natural pores of a cork handle, unless it was a large gap that would eventually cause problems. I think the small striations in the cork give it character and feel. A total waste of time as far as I am concerned.

I don't fill in cork unless it needs it. I use Pit Paste to fill spaces where the cork is gouged or damaged, or heavy pitted. If the cork is new or undamaged, I just normally seal it so that it lasts longer and cleans easier. I have used it on several older grips to restore them and it works excellent.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Randolph,
Your statement is certainly true of cork from a few years ago.
Unfortunately, much of today's cork has more holes and gouges than sound cork. If you don't fill some of the holes and gaps, you can actually drop a finger or hand into a hole in the cork.

Such is the nature of much of today's cork.

Sure, if you want to pay $5 per ring, you can get some pretty decent cork. But if you only want to spend 50 cents a ring, the quality is pretty poor.

Roger

A custom rod? Use better cork. Filled cork always looks like its been filled.

Custom doesn't always mean the best of the best. Use what your customer is willing to pay for.

I just purchased a bunch of Top Flor. Even that is not as good as it should be and after turning a few grips. some of it would not have passed as Flor or even lower grade in the past. Cork quality just is not what it once was. I do not fill often because, as Randolph said, some of it adds character. If it needs filling, I use Pit Paste. Sands nice and if I treat it with Tru Oil, it still looks good.

Roger I guess I am lucky, I still have several thousand from years ago.

I have found some thing I like

I shap the handle Clean well No fill Or maybe any real bad ones
Then put one or two coats of finish on
Let dry
sand fill any deep ones
What I want is to get the handle level with the finish
Then when dry sand it Clean it well Then put a thin coat on And when dry run over it with 0000 wool just to take the gloss off

looks nice for me And the golden color the finish gives it

Bill - willierods.com

Randolph,
If you would like to sell me a thousand rings for the same price as you paid for them, I would be more than willing to take them off your hands.

Roger

Roger, I bet you would!! Sorrry, no deal. ;>)

Hi Scott,


I got a jar of you'r PitPaste, used on 3 rods worked out well, went back 2 weeks later to do another handle , opened the jar to find the paste almost dry. I was careful to make sure that I put the cap back on tight , what happened ,? I put 4 drops of water in and mixed ,that worked ok . When I went back to use it again about a month later to late ,to hard to use, water did not work, what happened? What did I do wrong? thank you for you'r help.

Richard Curry Maysville GA.

What is life without fishing ?