I bought a couple of kits from Mudhole but I was wondering if any of you guys or girls by the supplies and parts that are not in a kit. If so- where? Looking for different sizes or options.

Jon Hood



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2019 10:03AM by Jon Hood.

Try Soller Composites, everything you need except the foam cores. [www.sollercomposites.com]
Norm

Thanks Norman,
That takes care of the carbon fiber sleeves - now that I’ve seen Mike Riley make the foam cores - I want to try that! So, any information on what to use and where to get please!

Jon Hood

Try products from United Composites, Fibre Glast, or Aluminite. They all sell a two part polyurethane foams of different densities.
Norm

Yes I love soller composites I order stuff from there for all kinds of projects. Foam is also available from composites envision on @#$%&. They are located in Wausau Wisconsin

Thanks!
And I assume I will need to make my on mold correct?

Jon Hood

You don't need much of a mold. Take a square baking pan and bore holes end to end for mandrels. Pour the foam into the pan and let it expand and set. Then slip the mandrels out, saw the "cake" into 4 sections, reinsert the mandrels and turn away. This was also covered in an earlier issue of the magazine.

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While others have criticized this idea as resulting in a grip that is too heavy, I have had good luck purchasing cheap cork handles that are frequently on sale from the various dealers listed to the left. I either use them as is or modify them to fit the design of the handle I'm creating. I then wet them with epoxy, slip the carbon fiber sleeve over them and zip tie them until they dry. I bought core from Riley Rods until they went out of business and didn't want the mess of pouring and turning my own. As for the weight t issue, I don't buy the too heavy argument. Most of the cheap cork I buy is not dense enough to be any heavier than the foam core I was using.

Fair enough. The thing is, it's not the carbon skin that is important - it's the core material. When we were developing these grips, the carbon skin simply ended up being the best product to protect the all important, rigid, lightweight core. In effect, the carbon skin was an afterthought. It was not the prime consideration.

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I have done it both ways, cork or foam under the carbon sleeve. Weighed alone (before applying the sleeve) there is quite a difference between cork and the foam.

As always - Great information!
Any other do’s, dont’s or tips/tricks?

Jon Hood

Hello All.

Tom, I think you are talking about the article "Foam Core Molding Station" in Volume 11, Issue 1, Page 19.



Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Thanks Bob,
Just ordered it!! I’m sure the pan with the mandrel through it will probably be the best bet as it has been proven. However, the idea of using the the silicone inside a pvc pipe seems like there would be less waste and less turning. Anyone use this method?(Mike Riley’s video) If so, I would like to hear about it! Pro’s and Con’s

Jon Hood

Hello Jon.

Mike sold those, I don't know if he has any leftovers.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

i've cobbled together some 1" (sprayed with release agent/waxed) pvc , 1/4" steel rods(also sprayed with release agent/waxed) and some sort of centering spacer to pour the two part foam cores. turns out well. just be forewarned to mix less than you think you will use. it really expands!!!! it is very thin at first as well. bottom of tubes have to be plugged. remember release agent.

I would recommend US Composites or Raka Inc for 2 part foam. Both offer multiple densities.

I think Mike Riley was using 6 Lb Density foam

Does anyone have any info about the silicone portion of the mold he used? The pvc seems pretty straight forward to make but the silicone piece looked like it had ends on it to keep the the mandrel centered. I’m thinking he made those himself. Anyone have any info on these silicone molds?

Jon Hood

If you're going to turn the cores on a lathe, the mandrel will automatically center once you take the first few roughing cuts. And this stuff turns very easy. Don't make things harder than they have to be.

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Tom,
I agree, not trying to make things difficult at all - it seems to me that the mold system I am trying to research would be cleaner and use less materials - thus being more cost effective in the long run.

Jon Hood

The foam doesn't cost much when you come right down to it. The grips are more labor intensive than they are monetarily expensive.

Getting the foam out of a PVC tubes, if you try to push from the end anyway, can be difficult as the interior of PVC is somewhat "pebbled" and even with the silicone mold release the removal of the core can be difficult. This is why we went to baking pans and just pour the foam in, and lift the "cake" out. Plus you can do four or so at a time.

The mold Mike was using was split down the middle so the halves could be separated, I think. Just can't remmember them exactly.

You'll probably have to make a few cores to find the system that you prefer.

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