Noticed some custom builders use 1/4” thick cork rings for their fly grips. What’s the reason for this? Does it create a higher quality grip?

Cheers
Dan

Dan,
Really excellent cork is getting harder and harder to obtain. However, often it is possible to get near perfect cork if the cork is cut thinner so that they can use the good side of what would be a 1/2 inch piece of cork.

But, yes, the answer to your question is yes, it is possible to get higher quality grips with 1/4 inch thick cork.

most builders want the best and that comes with a price as floor grade cork becomes less available
that is the cork with very few small or pinhead inclusions/pits and look like wood grain swirls in the rings and is generally light in color light beige to caramel color don't be fooled by bleached cork that is near white with allot of little pits

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

!/4" works as does 1/8", which I prefer as the many pits in less than true flor grade cork are then so short they form an interesting if not attractive pattern to some eyes.

The 1/8" rings can also be used to make faux birch bark grips which can be very attractive without the construction challenges of real birch bark.

There is no standard for "flor" grade cork. Flor grade can be perfect, or laden with pits and holes. Gene Bullard coined the term "flor" and never put any sort of standard behind it. So there is nothing that says in order to be considered flor grade, a ring must be 90% clear, etc.

Beyond that, the reason you may see 1/8th inch rings is because you can take a regular 1/2 inch ring and usually get a fairly clear 1/8th or 1/4 ring out of it. The remainder is discarded. So you have more waste, but a more clear grip as a result.

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Thanks for all your replies, I’ll give the 1/4” rings a go and see how I like them.

Cheers
Dan

What you probably want to do is buy 1/2 inch rings and halve them and then use the better half of each one. Just buying 1/4 inch rings is no guarantee of better quality.

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