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Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Alec Stansell
(---)
Date: November 19, 2022 07:13AM
Greetings fellow rod makers; I am considering using a woven carbon fiber grip on a 9’ 8wt. fly rod I’m building; it’s a full-wells design, so it has a steep drop at each end of the grip. Has anyone had any experience with the durability of these grips and the potential of fraying at the edges? Thanks in advance for any feedback and tight lines, Alec Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2022 07:21AM by Alec Stansell. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Norman Miller
(---.lightspeed.jcsnms.sbcglobal.net)
Date: November 19, 2022 08:50AM
They are extremely durable and clean up easily. I have been using them on my fly, spinning, and casting rods for quite a few years, and they still look brand new. They are almost bullet proof.
Norm Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Tom Kirkman
(Moderator)
Date: November 19, 2022 09:00AM
I still have and use the first foam-core carbon-skinned grip ever made. It's been on a fly rod and has seen almost 19 years of use now. It still looks new.
............. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Al Jones
(---.biz.spectrum.com)
Date: November 19, 2022 09:18AM
I slipped and fell wade fishing the other day and slammed my rod and reel down on a big rock to catch myself. The fly reel is pretty dinged up but you can't even find a mark on the carbon grip. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Herb Ladenheim
(94.140.11.---)
Date: November 19, 2022 11:00AM
Alec
You might want to think twice re a CFG. Especially if you are fishing in saltwater - they get very slippery in the salt. If you texurize it to eliminate that - it is very hard on the casting hand. Herb Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Michael Danek
(---.adr01.alma.mi.frontiernet.net)
Date: November 19, 2022 04:39PM
Herb, are you referring to the carbon fiber grips finished with a coat of hard coat of some sort, or the NFC type that are sort of matte finish, not glossy? I can't believe that the NFC type get that slippery. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Tom Kirkman
(Moderator)
Date: November 19, 2022 04:46PM
Smooth and slippery are not the same thing. The gloss finished grips are actually more "grippy" than the ones with a slightly textured matt finish.
Water will not make them slippery - in fact it does just the opposite. Fish slime will, just as it does with just about any type of grip. I typically wipe my hands off if I've handled a fish and have never had any issue with the grips in fresh or saltwater. In fact you'll find that to move the rod around in your hand-fingers, you really have to relax your grip as they don't slide in your hand as easily as cork. The other thing you'll notice early on is that your hand will cramp because you'll be gripping too tightly. Once you relax a bit you'll notice that you get better response and distance for your casting input because these grips do not deflect like cork does. You may not think you're working harder with cork, but once you compare the two you'll see what I mean. Relax, use less effort and get better results. .............. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Phil Erickson
(---)
Date: November 19, 2022 06:23PM
I have been building fly rods with them (both purchased and self made) since the first article in Rodmaker, 10 plus years. Never had one wear or be slippery. There are now 3 surfaces on them, glossy smooth, woven surface, and a newer smooth rubber feeling. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Herb Ladenheim
(94.140.11.---)
Date: November 19, 2022 07:26PM
I have installed 3 CFG's on 3 fly rods. Before I installed them I tested for "Grippyness" with tap water. They DID get more grippy. But VERY slipperywith saltwater. I took the shine off one of the=m and it got more slippery.
That was 7-8yrs ago. Then, 2 yrs ago, I bought a custom (to my specs) CFG in Ritz shape with fighting butt - the carbon fiber was left unfilled and was very grippy. But was very uncomfortable on my hand to cast with. Herb Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Tom Kirkman
(Moderator)
Date: November 19, 2022 07:42PM
Shape has more to do with the ability to grip something than does the surface texture. Consult the the RodMaker series on grip ergonomics if you want to know why.
........... Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Robert A. Guist
(---.res6.spectrum.com)
Date: November 19, 2022 08:45PM
Hello All.
Here is my quicky check, don't know about pt. 5 & 6 (My keyboard is not working right) 19/4 Ergonomics Part 1, Proper Grip/Handle/Seat Diameter. By Tom Kirkman. 24 19/5 Ergonomics Part 2, Proper Grip/Handle/Seat Shape By Tom Kirkman. 24 19/6 Ergonomics Part 3, Pommels and Tapers. By Tom Kirkman. 22 20/1 Ergonomics Part 4, Surface Texture. By Tom Kirkman. 14 23/6 Ergonomics Part 7, Why Shape Matters By Tom Kirkman. 18 19/6 Ergonomics Variation. 25 16/6 Ergonomics, Fishing Rod Levers. By Tom Kirkman. 18 10/3 Ergonomics, Fishing Rod. 10 Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines. Bob, New Bern, NC. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Alec Stansell
(---)
Date: November 20, 2022 04:46AM
Thank you all for your responses. The grip I have is unfinished; that is to say, there is no additional finish covering the woven carbon fiber. I’ve supplied a link to a picture below. I’m glad to hear that it is proven to be durable, as that is my main concern. Thanks again everybody and tight lines! Alec
[www.rodbuilding.org] Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2022 04:57AM by Alec Stansell. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
David Baylor
(---.res6.spectrum.com)
Date: November 20, 2022 10:25AM
Nothing really to add other than double down on what Tom said about them not being slippery when simply wet. I have one that I top coated with the lay up epoxy used to make it, then top coated with Permagloss. It is glass smooth and grippy as all get out, Now add fish slime or weed slime, and it's a different story. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Tom Kirkman
(Moderator)
Date: November 20, 2022 11:38AM
David Baylor Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Nothing really to add other than double down on > what Tom said about them not being slippery when > simply wet. I have one that I top coated with the > lay up epoxy used to make it, then top coated with > Permagloss. It is glass smooth and grippy as all > get out, Now add fish slime or weed slime, and > it's a different story. Right. Fish slime will make any grip slippery - this isn't unique to carbon skinned grips. But most of us tend to wipe our hands off a bit after landing a fish, if we touch the fish at all. I'm not sure about these guys that are dripping in fish slime. They must be doing something different. ............. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Phil Erickson
(---)
Date: November 20, 2022 12:22PM
On an 8wt rod, you may find that the untreated grip gets uncomfortable as the day goes on, as it has a hard fiber surface that begins to feel abrasive. By the way.....beautiful job on the reel seat and butt !! Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Norman Miller
(---.lightspeed.jcsnms.sbcglobal.net)
Date: November 20, 2022 12:37PM
I give my CF grips a coat or two of Permagloss. Don’t know if it’s necessarily but it does give the grip a little more sheen and it looks good.
Norm Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Spencer Phipps
(---)
Date: November 20, 2022 12:40PM
Tom Kirkman has a video on Youtube showing how he finished those grips with Permagloss. Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Tom Kirkman
(Moderator)
Date: November 20, 2022 01:16PM
It's on the RodMaker Magazine Youtube channel.
......... Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Norman Miller
(---.lightspeed.jcsnms.sbcglobal.net)
Date: November 20, 2022 03:23PM Re: Durability of woven carbon fiber grip
Posted by:
Alec Stansell
(---)
Date: November 22, 2022 03:43PM
Guys - Once again THANK YOU! Great responses and a big help to me. I really like the appearance of the Permagloss top coat that Tom so ably demonstrates in his video - beautiful! Your help is most appreciated and Ive learned alot. Alec Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
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