Curious what the advantages are of graphite handles, other than that the look is radically different. Price seems comparable.
Do they generally weigh less?
Are they as comfortable?
As long lasting?

Do they generally weigh less? YES
Are they as comfortable? IN MY OPINION YES
As long lasting? WILL LAST LONGER

Graphite is absolutely the best product to allow an angler to " feel" vibrations from the bait, feel what is going on at the other end of the line.
Is easier to tell what your bait is doing or going through/running through,( when it hits a rock, comes through vegetation, across or over a piece of wood, structure, or rock.

Improves bite detection over any other handle material.

Agree with Steve, will add: I think cork is easier to turn from rings into a finished grip, carbon fiber will not only last longer, it will look like new longer. And if necessary, can easily be renewed with another coat of finish. Carbon fiber is as comfortable, but feels a little different. Probably is better wet, although shape is a big factor in ergonomics.

Many of the shapes available in finished carbon fiber components are wrong for good feel and comfort, due to their sharp edges. I think some of the companies make them that way so you will use their winding checks. Done right the carbon fiber can smoothly transition into the blank with no winding check necessary.

I come from the world of fly rods. With the availability of high quality cork, or lack thereof, and increased price for what is available, a carbon fiber grip can also add a very nice aesthetic value too if your supply of cork is substandard.

eric
fresno, ca.

Valuable insight again, thank you.

While new to the world of rod building, I am old to the world of composites. Assuming you and previous responders are referring to rigid woven carbon fiber / epoxy pieces and not the relatively new type CF designed to be sewn for apparel or what-have-you of which I have no experience, need or desire, you can make your own grips or add CF accents yourself. Although the epoxy used of rod building is different than the structural types we utilized in the composite industry, I am certain a woven, composite sleeve could be wet-out with rod epoxy just fine. After all, applying finish epoxy to your wraps is virtually identical in concept to wetting-out a piece of CF, Aramid or fiberglass in a mold. Changes in diameter within the length of a piece really look cool as the weave compresses or stretches with the diameter. Awesome effect.
Check out sollercomposites.com for their extensive inventory of woven composite fabric sleeves. They have CF, Aramid (Kevlar), FG and others, hybrid mixes of each, a large array of colors and all in what ever diameter we could possible need for rod building and beyond. Tell Jon, the owner, that Craftsman Tech Composites referred you.
Personally, I appreciate the feel of cork grips, and besides, can blame all those lost fish on not being able to detect those nibbles.
Mark T.

We've been doing that since 2006.

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

Tom, With all due respect, I was simply sharing information with Dan and others who might not be as aware, proficient and professional as those such as yourself.
Mark T.

I know, but wasn't sure you were aware that it has been covered in depth in the magazine since 2006, and at the Expo just about every year since. I'm sure some might not be aware, but they would have to be fairly out of touch not to be,or perhaps absolutely new to the craft.

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

Understood.
Mark T.

What weight are most of you using in 1" size biaxial sleeves light or heavy? I might order some to play with. Thanks Jaa

Mark ;
If you would like to see some examples of CF handles and grips, go to the photo page and look around. There are thousands of examples of it's use in rod building. If you want to save some time. Look up "mike Peterson's" posts. He has been building them since 2008 and has posted many pictures for our viewing.
He also has several good pics on his web site [www.rileyrods.com]

But his work is just a fraction of what Custom builders have been doing with CF over the last ten years

Jay,
Again, I am new to rod building yet old to composites and haven't used composite sleeving for a rod yet. I would imagine the light fabric would be preferd as the heavy, especially the hybrid CF / colored fiberglass, can be pretty dang stiff.
Mark T.

I do believe your right, My limited experience with composites is with some RC fiberglass gas boats when I was younger. I was hoping someone would chime in, I have done some research but do not recall any articals that mentioning heavy or light sleeves? I would have to belive heavy would really suck up the resin. No mention of weights at Rileyrods, I will try to contact mike Peterson. Thanks Steve and Mark

Jay,
Check out sollercomposites.com. I purchase all my 100 yd rolls of CF and Kevlar from them and have had the need for their biaxial woven hybrid CF/Kevlar sleeves from time to time (not for a rod as yet). Their sleeving options of fabrics, hybrids, colors, and three different weights is pretty dang extensive. Tell Jon, the owner, Craftsman Tech Composites referred you.
MT