What exactly is Syncork? Being advertised on Thorne Brothers ice rods and I don't want to spend $112.99 to get a look at the grip.

"Stealth options-available on all panfish, perch and walleye blanks Featuring a 5" Syncork contoured handle with a recess for your reel foot that is not only comfortable but also 30% lighter than cork. "

Thanks, Buzz

"Fishermen are born honest. But they get over it." - Ed Zern

Do a search here, there're a bunch of posts. I don't know how they glue it together without it coming apart

hey buzz, I sent you an email...

It's a plastic material that like tree barks, etc. must be glued to the blank and turned to work, turning with a mandrel than reaming will cause the handle to come apart at the glue lines with the adhesives I have. If they are selling preformed grips they must have come up with a better adhesive.

Buzz,
I have talked to the chemist who came up with the material. Basically, it is a plastic material that comes out in a sheet - much like cork. Then, rings are punched out, much like cork.
Due to the nature of the material, since it really doesn't absorb glue, it is a tough material to glue. I believe that all of the rods are built by first gluing the rings to the blank and then turning the rod blanks on the lathe. Thus the grips are turned, as the blank is spun.
But, when done this way, the grips are very tough, don't show dirt, do not absorb water, are not hurt by the sun and just give a really good grip for all types of fishing.

Be safe

I've found that with time the glue joints tend to get dark and eventually fail if the blank flexes. This happened on rods loaded sitting in rod holders for extensive periods of time. I doubt the same failure would have occurred on hand held rods.

Sounds like you will be better with Carbon Fiber grips

Bill - willierods.com

I got some synthetic rings from Thorne Bros a few years ago. I think it was Syncork. mine were black.

I heard it was hard to glue so I had them glue it up and had them ship to me. Well, the rings came apart at the glue joint so I never got to use it. just one data point.

Mo

Mo,
Syncork works very well if the rings are glued to the blank and then the blank is turned to shape the rings. Not so well if the rings are glued up separately.

The material is a rather dense, very long wearing material that is very suitable for many different kinds of rods that get hard use. Very very tough.

Be safe