Just a quick question. I’ve been building my own custom cork handles for a couple years now and am thinking of integrating some color into them with EVA rings. When assembling my cork handles I always use waterproof wood glue but can I use it on the EVA as well? Maybe a silly question but don’t want things separating when I could have used quick set epoxy for those sections. Thanks in advance for your help!

Chuck

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Prior Lake Rod Building Guild
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Carpenter's glue won't hold very well to EVA. Better to use epoxy or you can use contact cement on just those pieces where EVA is being joined.

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DAP Weldwood Contact Cement is my preference for gluing EVA to anything. The only exception is when gluing on a butt cap, I'll use Rod Bond, since it's already mixed up and good to go.

With the contact cement, I usually buy small jars. Unless you are using it on a very regular basis, it will thicken up and get more stringy over time once the jar is open.

Rod Bond, very thinly applied. Remove excess with alcohol after clamping. If it oozes out too much, you used too much glue. A very thin coat is all that is required.

Chuck,
I do not use EVA, or comparable, for grips so cannot offer an answer to your question. However, I do often use different types of material within the same grip such as cork, birch bark and exotic woods. The gist of my reply is that different materials sand at different rates; basically a softer material (cork) will sand much quicker than a harder material (hardwood). This can leave the surface of the grip uneven if not unsightly. I have found that machining the hardwood slightly smaller than the cork prior to assembling them together and then carefully finish sanding the cork down just until it matches the hardwood to produce the best results. Without any experience with EVA, I do not know how it sands compared to cork; just beware and test, test,test. I am certain all of us would like to see the fruits of your labor.