I've had a request from a customer to put a weave on a foam grip. I've never done this before, i'm guessing it wouldn't be that difficult. Just a case of hardening the surface first with epoxy. I'm more concerned with how it will hold out in the long run with wear and tear, cracking? This would be on a fore grip by the way. Anyone tried this and had good results? Failing that, any type of thread work over a grip that has been epoxy coated?

Jersey, Channel Islands. (U.K.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2013 01:23PM by Steve Mcleod.

I have been working on that, wraping on the grip no finish, you must be soft handed and even preshure to keep it flat, it will sink in unevenly
and precise laying of the thread is nessesary, there is no moving the thread to pack afterword . Havent tried over finish yet that's next
I applied procoat to the grip let it dry and I found
with the softness of the grip, so far the finish flexes with it didn't over do it yet, we will see with a little more time to set,
then ill put it in a rod holder punish it and see what happens,

It will be interesting to see what else has been done.

Curt

ps. Using d-thread is far more easy to deal with than a.

Curt

You might want to build in some sort of insert within the grip suitable as a base for a thread weave. The trip itself, even coated with something, is going to be suspect under use.

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

Tom's right. If you think about it, you'll have a flexible substrate with a thin semi-rigid section on top where you wrap and finish. I would think the chances of this failing over time would be high.

You might consider using cork, or a urethane insert under your wrap section, then use the foam on either side to complete the grip, or on either end, depending on your grip design dimensions.

Terry

Yes, I think at some point it would get pressured and crack, split, etc.

A section of tubing within or between sections of EVA might be the ticket.

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

Hello All

What about turning the grip down in the area you are going to put the weave enough that when coated with multi coats of whatever you decide to use on it, (I'd use PG in multi coats) it is level with the rest of the grip?

JM2C

Tight Weaves & Wet Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Thanks Guys. Some good ideas there. I was thinking that too about the cracking. Also packing and burnishing might be a problem even with a coat of finish on the foam?

Jersey, Channel Islands. (U.K.)

I think the best bet is to not use EVA or anything "spongy" or flexible at all. Since a hard coating with thread will go over the top it also makes it redundant. A hard tube would be the best bet. Maybe some wide diameter carbon tube?

Also consider that when you wrap over thread finish the thread will sink in and not be moveable therefor packing will be a chore. A split grip with a tube the diameter of the of the grip OD sounds like the best solution .

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Hello Steve.

What about something waaayyy out of the box?

Get a sheet of 1/8" or 1/16" foam the same color of the grip and go to a seamstress and have the design embroidered on the foam then glue the foam onto the grip.
If you think that will get to dirty to fast you could put an acrylic tube over the whole thing(which defeats the whole EVA thing).

What do you think of that? Far enough out of the box for you?

Good Luck and let us know what you do and how it turns out.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.