Wondering about making cork grips look perfect. Do you have a favorite way to smooth and fill imperfections in cork rings/grips?
thanks
D.

They used to make a product called "Pit Paste"
But now it's Elmers Wood Filler - Golden Oak.
A better way is to buy better cork at $315 per ring - don't have to bother with filling pits.
Herb

Clean out the hole in your cork grip and make the hole a bit wider at the bottom than at the top. Get some corks [the fun part] and using medium grip sandpaper sand the cork into a fine dust. Thoroughly mix a grape-sized gob of two-part, slow curing epoxy in a plastic bottle-cap and mix thoroughly. Gradually add and stir the cork dust into the epoxy mixture until it becomes saturated with the cork dust - a thick paste. Use a small, flat piece of metal for a trowel to completely and tightly fill the hole in the grip with the epoxy/cork dust mixture, leaving the surface of the patch a LITTLE bit higher than the surface of your rod grip. A day or so later carefully sand the surface of your epoxy-cork dust patch level and smooth with the rest of you grip. I have rod grips patched in this a manner decades ago, and they still look (and feel) fine.

Elmers - Pro Bond - interior/exterior golden oak wood filler takes care of the problem.

[www.menards.com]

With the grip on the lathe, I completely cover the grip with wood filler, being particularly careful to fill any deep pits or gouges.

I let it dry for at least 4 hours and then, use sand paper to smooth down the grip.

I don't go all of the way, at this point, just get most of the filler off of the rod and then, recheck the grip for the deep pits that may need some additional filler. If so, fill the gouges and let dry for another 4 hours.

Then, I use various grades of sand paper on the lathe to really clean up the grip and have it ready for service. The very last step is to use the back side of the sand paper to be essentially using the non grit side of the paper for the final clean up and polish of the grip.

With the new type of water proof filler - that this product is; one can expect long and useful service with the grip - whether it is sunny or raining.

Take care

Always start with the best cork you can get...

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

Thanks guys for your advice---I got some Elmers and it did nicely
D.

Are "premium" cork handles just regular cork handles with fillers? I shaped a few of them for some children's rods and now they look just "regular". Not bad, but not "premium" any longer.

Mark Brassett Wrote:
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> Are "premium" cork handles just regular cork
> handles with fillers? I shaped a few of them for
> some children's rods and now they look just
> "regular". Not bad, but not "premium" any longer.

Mark,
Unsure about your post.
Premade "Premimum Cork Handles" - are simply "regular" cork with filler.

I do not know of any premade cork grips tat are made with the best cork available.
herb

Thanks, Herb. I am referring to Super Grade sold by Mudhole vs. what they label as cork.

Mark Brassett Wrote:
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> Thanks, Herb. I am referring to Super Grade sold
> by Mudhole vs. what they label as cork.


I don't see "SUPER" bit I did see AAAA grade at $5.95 each.
WOW - I never saw that.
I like and buy good cork - 70% of what I buy is acceptable at $3.15 ea.
Did not know $5.95 cork exsisted
Herb

Here is a rather interesting link to cork suppliers all over the world, and pictures of various types of cork.

[www.google.com]

Some really bad cork, some medium cork and a few pictures of some pretty nice cork.

It is interesting to note the one supplier from Alibaba who sells huge pallets of raw cork that has been stripped from the tree to be used for what ever purpose that one needs for various grades of cork.

Such a variety at such a variety of prices.

I suspect that in the scope of world wide consumption, the really nice high grade cork rings that many rod builders like to use in their builds is a really tiny portion of the entire cork supply industry as the cork seed grows into a tree, and 75 years later, the tree is ready for its first harvest. A family has to be in it for the long haul - if one wants to be part of the cork supply industry.