Does anyone have experience using stabilized spalted maple for a grip? Have customer that thinks he wants it for a catfish rod - so a 10-12” grip with a 6-7” foregrip.

Wondering about weight (though it would be in a blank with a butt likely around 3-4” give or take, so not but much of it left… which makes me worry about drilling / reaming such a length.

I’ve seen it used (I think) as accent pieces or maybe a fly rod grip - but not at that size….. and wondering what sources there are and if it’s even obtainable in 12” lengths stabilized

Try one ofteh RB sponsors that in grips, such as - [www.customflygrips.info], Contact them with what you are looking for.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

You can always core it to reduce weight by a truly significant amount: [www.rodbuilding.org]

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Michael,
With a catfish rod, they are typically very tip heavy. So, a heavy maple butt will do a nice job to balance out the rod. I know that most of the folks who cat fish around here, hardly every hold their rod. They put out the line and then put the rod in a rod holder until they get a bite.

A well built maple grip will really be a thing of beauty.

Take care

you see a lot of stabilized spalted maple blocks available on @#$%&. Most are for knife scales but I'm sure one of the dealers can hook you up.

Snake Brand has some stabilized Spalted Maple fly reel inserts, and they are gorgeous!

As the stabilized wood is even heavier, it would very good to core it as Tom mentions! This will reduce the weight by about half. I build a lot of custom wood grips for fly rods and my preference would be for unstabilized wood, as it is lighter and not as hard to the touch.

I wonder if UV40 cork seal would protect unsterilized wood handles/inserts.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

Thanks all. Looks like he wants to go burled cork due to the costs involved. But I’m going to tuck this away for a project myself …