going to try making my first foam core grips with carbon skins. what pound density foam do you guys recommend? four or eight? these will be for light saltwater rods. thanks.

6

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Super Tight Lines......Don

8 is the way to go.

6#.. but since you asked between 4# and 8# I would go with 4# for light saltwater.



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Riley Rods-Hard Core Grips to Go!-----Carbon Fiber - Composite Grip Store-----Capt Mike's Blog-----No Excuses Fishing Charters



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2013 05:25PM by Mike Pedersen.

IMO you should go with the 8. It doesn't weigh enough extra that you can even notice it but its a lot harder than the lighter density. It's my preference for the saltwater stuff.

I'm not sure you need anything more than the 4lb stuff. The 4lb is suitable for moderate pressure and the skin provides good protection against denting, etc.

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Unless you are building a very heavy off shore rod and gets hammered hard in a rod holder there is no need to ever use 8# I like 4 because it is a little lighter and in Michigan we don't have much use for super heavy stuff. 6 is the best go to for most applications.

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Super Tight Lines......Don

8# is overkill in most applications The only time I use it is for heavy trolling rods (50# plus) and when making heavy duty reel seat arbors.

It is double the weight of 4#. A 10" long 1.0" diameter 8# foam core no skin weighs 1.32oz,, 4#=0.66oz. That is a big enough weight difference for me. The strength is in the composite not the foam.

Goldilocks says the 6# is just right.




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Riley Rods-Hard Core Grips to Go!-----Carbon Fiber - Composite Grip Store-----Capt Mike's Blog-----No Excuses Fishing Charters

I agree with 8#.... Im sure it is overkill but I feel that its easier to work with and I just like knowing I have a stronger material under the CF. Plus I cant tell a difference weight wise so I figure when in doubt go with overkill

You have to go with Mike's recommendation. After all he pretty much wrote the book on foam core.

Tom and Andy wrote the 'book' that got me started with their Rodmaker article but I certainly have put in a few hours working with it.

Out of the over 7500 foam cores I've poured/used/sold about 6800 have been 6#, but to each their own. There's not a right or wrong just a preference.

One more thing is that the amount needed to make a core is directly proportionate to the weight. You will get double the number of cores using 4# over 8# or 50% more using 6# over 8#.




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Riley Rods-Hard Core Grips to Go!-----Carbon Fiber - Composite Grip Store-----Capt Mike's Blog-----No Excuses Fishing Charters

Mike Pedersen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tom and Andy wrote the 'book' that got me started
> with their Rodmaker article but I certainly have
> put in a few hours working with it.
>
> Out of the over 7500 foam cores I've
> poured/used/sold about 6800 have been 6#, but to
> each their own. There's not a right or wrong just
> a preference.
>
> One more thing is that the amount needed to make a
> core is directly proportionate to the weight. You
> will get double the number of cores using 4# over
> 8# or 50% more using 6# over 8#.
>
>
>
>
> .....


Good lord thats a lot of cores

Hi Steve,
I've just started making grips with this method and I had no trouble with the six pound foam and they're for medium weight saltwater rods. Mike is the guru and I would follow his lead with anthing to do with making them. Have a look at the youtube video he posted recently and you will learn heaps

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia