I am new to the EVA foam grips, been using cork, cork tape and Hypolon for 55 yrs. building rods. I have some very large diameter rods I need to put grips on, and only EVA is big enough. I always had enough
strength to push any size grip on, and I usually heated them first, to make them easier to work/stretch on (Hypolon). However, I am older now (very) and I have had a back operation, and have little grip or arm strength.

Can I use some heat to soften the EVA to assist me to get it on? I heated Hypolon for 30 sec. in the microwave or put them in very hot water to enable me to stretch them easily.

What is your opinion, rod builders? Also... can I cut and shape (sand) it easily, as can be done with Hypolon?

Thanks,

Mike



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2018 06:51PM by Michael Nichols.

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Michael,
Although it is pretty common for folks to stretch a grip to put on a rod, it is also very common to ream out the grip and simply glue it on the rod in a fashion identical to putting a cork grip on the rod.

Obtain and or make reamers that are appropriate for what you are doing. Ream out the grip to be just a touch smaller than the grip and then, after slathering the rod with cement, slip the grip in place. Wipe off the excess and move on.

You can look at some of the videos that Billy V has put out to see the techniques for turning and creating beautiful grips from the materials of which you ask.

By the way, I do all of my reaming using power. i.e. power drills to spin devices that I use to ream. I have a full selection of circular files that I have assembled over the years that take care of reaming jobs.
I also have a full selection of various sized aircraft extension bits that are two feet long for drilling out the inside of grips. I normally spend less than 5 minutes to prep a grip before gluing to the rod.



Best of luck

Mike, If you have on old rod that you can sacrifice, strip it down cut it in three equal pieces, glue 1" wide 60 grit sandpaper strips spiraled up each blank piece to be used as reamers. If you want to make power reamers of them , get some PC-7 epoxy and flatten one end of 1/4" round stock , coat with the PC-7 and insert into reamers as center as possible. After they cure you can chuck in a drill and power ream all the EVA you need to.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)