Hello as all rodbuilders !
I’d like some advice on two little things. The first I would like to create grips for Fuji IPS except that I have a lot of trouble creating the part that is rounded... would you have a good technique to succeed in making a nice grip? ( I had thought of a table sander ). The second question is that I turn a lot of grip with the Eva BlockCRB and I find that this eva is soft and hard to sand to make it smooth. I spent several quick blows of lighters to burn the surface a little to better sand it but nothing to do. Impossible to have an impeccable result... Thank you in advance!! Alexis

Your best bet for shaping EVA is on a lathe. Even something simple like a drill with a mandrel and some sort of V-block for the end of the mandrel can be made to work. Flex Coat has a simple grip turning set-up that might work for you.

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I use a lathe on high speed. 80 Grit screen paper that is used for drywall to shape then 250 to smooth out. Do not hold on the surface too long because it will heat up and the EVA will melt. Shape / sand in short strokes and smooth out in longer strokes. To finish the surface use a general purpose 3M Scotch-Brite pad cut in 1/4" to 1/2" strips. Doesn't take much to get a nice finished look. There are probably others that do more EVA than me so there are other ways, but this is what works for me. I only use 1/4" or 1/2" strips of the abrasives to shape, smooth and finish.

Making the cutout to fit an IPS reel seat is beyond my expertise. I do make cork grips that fit the IPS seat by glueing cork rings to a cork IPS adapter. I do this on a mandrel and turn on a lathe to to shape and smooth. This allows you to make the grip as long or as short as you want.
[www.mudhole.com]
NFC has recently started selling CF split grips that fit the IPS seat. I like these grips a lot.
[northforkcomposites.com]
Norm

Try using drywall sand paper. It works great on EVA foam. Then smooth with 200 - 400 sand paper.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com