Hi,
I'm installing a 12" cross-cut EVA grip with a 1/2" hole on a vertical jigging blank. The blanks taper is smaller than a 1/2". Do most of you just use masking tape rings to build it up, similar to a reel seat installation?
Thanks
Bruno

Use some heavy thread or cord to spiral wrap the blank to make up the size difference. Quicker and better than tape bushings. Smother the cord with epoxy and "screw" the grip in place.

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That all depends, how much smaller is your blank than the 1/2" hole in your foam, and how important is minimal weight to you? A lot of tape built up will certainly add weight to the build, a small amount of tape not so much. Mock it up and judge the weight for yourself. If you find it too heavy, you'll have to approach the mounting process using a material that is lighter in weight than the tape.

If weight is a concern, It's probably easier to buy a new grip with a smaller hole and ream it to correctly fit your blank's taper, but if you didn't want to go that way you could make a core from another piece of foam (or cheap cork or other lightweight material), epoxy it in place, and slide your grip over that. Keep in mind that if you go with a core material, even tape, that it will be visible on the ends which may require something to hide it from view (inside edges of rear split grips or front grip).

Bruno,
I use masking tape and leave 1/8th inch gaps in the tape for epoxy to reach the blank and secure the grip in place without having to worry about the masking tape sticking. You are just using the tape as a spacer, but the glue for adhesion.

Or follow John's advice on the use of an inexpensive lightweight arbor, if the gap is considerable.

Good luck

How much smaller? Why not just get the proper size or smaller and then ream it?

Randy is right on
save the other one for another rod

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I'm building a Bushido BVJ58400 and I wasn't able to find a 12" grip with a 3/8" or 1/4" hole smallest in that size 1/2". My other option is to do cork or make my own EVA grip but I really like the cross cut grips.

there is a way to lay twine over eva Glue it on Then put shrink tubing over Similar

Bill - willierods.com

Bruno

Here is a cross cut grip with a .375 in hole

[www.mudhole.com]

Tom

.375 = 9.525 mm

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks but those grips have been backorder for sometime now.

It sounds like you have a large area to fill (big difference in blank diameter vs grip hole size) over a long length (12"). I'd be inclined to build up a lightweight inner bushing from cork or foam to keep weight down since you want to use a specific premade grip vs making one from raw stock without a hole. Your options are limited.