Wondering who sells the best cork handles around 14" for a steelhead rod. I have used the Batson handles and while the quality is good in the super grade handles it is still far more expensive than the super grade handles I see on Mudhole. So I guess I'm wondering if the handles of Mudhole are of very high quality as well.

I have always thought Loomis had the nicest handles like on their old IMXs, so I guess thats the kind of cork I'm looking for. Thanks!

Unless you buy the best cork rings you can get - you will get inferior stuff with filler.
You can't buy cork as good as it was in "the day". It doesn't exist.
Herb

Really, really, really great cork is available at the Expo each year. And each year, vendors end up carrying most of it back home. There was cork there last year that was as close to perfect as I have seen in 40 years of doing this. And it was less than $2 per ring.

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

Well sadly I'm a long ways from making my own handles... So thats pretty rough!

I must say tho the super grade cork from Batson is as good as I could ever want, I was just wondering if there was anything else comparable.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2018 07:50PM by Denham Bruce.

Angler's Workshop used to have cork grips of good quality made in Portugal, even used to go over and select their stock. This also let them make cork in sizes you don't always see, they have both longer and larger diameter pre-formed grips.

At 55.00 list (Utmost) for a Batson grip, or Spencer's suggestion (somewhat less it would appear), or Get Bit, vs $2 a ring and you have to make it, You make the call.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2018 03:49PM by Lynn Behler.

At $2.00 a ring a 14" grip has $56.00 in cork before you even start.

I love making my own cork handles and grips it's one of the most enjoyable things in rod building. I order my cork from cork4us but since it comes from Portugal I ordered a large quantity and haven't ordered any for about 4 years. I only build about 5 rods a year. The quality is fantastic and the price was reasonable even with shipping I am going to order some more this year.

Paul, where do you learn what their prices are? Rather unique website.

While the pre-made handles look great at a distance, if you look closely you'll find that they are filled. At least that is what I have found. The best looking cork IMHO is found on some burl cork rings that have a mix of large and small chunks. They look great with something like Tru Oil on them, or really beautiful with wrap epoxy on them. Use split grips and the weight difference will be somewhat offset and the cost will be lower.

Some burl with uniform chunk sizes looks like "particle board: or cheap cork you'd buy for lining tool boxes.

[www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2019 10:22PM by Michael Danek.

Yeah their website is very confusing! I have a pdf file that I got from them threw FB messenger. You can get a catalog the same way.