I just finished a flipping rod for a customer and did a para cord grip per his request. This is the first time I’ve done para cord. It turned out well, but the customer didn’t specify any finish for it. Is it customary to leave it unfinished? If not, what should I use? Thanks! I’m concerned about a finish because it is a multicolor patriotic color scheme and I don’t want to ruin it. Thanks!

To me, paracord is too soft. About anything you coat it with tends to soften or crack in use. I use braided nylon and coat it with a couple coats of exterior urethane. It creates a rough texture, however. Good for surf rods and the like but maybe not for other uses.

So, if you leave the paracord uncoated there may be a tendency for it to shift under use. But I'm not really sure what the best product would be. Almost surely it'll darken with any oil based finish type.

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I don't have experience with this process, but perhaps a color preserver could be applied prior to a final finish with thread finish? Testing a sample before doing it on the rod is in order.

I like the test idea. Think I’ll play around with a small sample.

On a side note, I think having para cord as a grip on a fishing rod is nutty, but it’s what he wanted.

I tend to not use paracord, but its a semi-popular handle material for a lot of saltwater rods made in Southern California, even used on some factory rods. A lot of the builders there coat cord with a clear water based spar urethane. If you don't treat the cord it will get sun damaged quickly and any colors will fade. Much like rod finish and thread, if the cord has any bright colors you want to keep you will want to put color preserver on it first and then the spar varnish on it after the CP has dried.

I would personally test wrap something like a wooden dowel and then see how it comes out before doing it on the finished rod.

I'm doing a sample test now with CP. And, as luck would have it, I happen to have some clear urethane so I'll definitely give that a try once the CP is dry. Thanks!

I used a nylon mason cord made by T. W. Evans in their yellow/gold bought at Home Depot years ago to wrap some Lamiglas honey glass rod grips, once the varnish was on it became very close to the blank color, just a tad to orange if I remember right. There is lots of colors available.

IMO any finish that impregnates the cord will work, the para cord will harden and become solid. No different than a Carbon Fiber sleeve over a core.

The only issue I see is that paracord is soft and not consistently round and will result in an uneven surface along the length of the grip. I guess if you are careful wrapping the paracord it can be massaged and applied evenly prior to finishing.

Have fun

I have shown the sample with CP on it to the customer and he was good so off we go with part two of the test which is to put the clear urethane on the sample. One thing I noticed after the CP dried is the colors did darken slightly. I also can’t help wondering if the cord will become brittle over time (after the urethane). I don’t know. I guess time will tell. I’m just glad I’m a creature of habit for my personal rods. I like my cork grips and see no reason to change.

Ideally you want enough to soak in to the cord, but not so much as to create a coat of it built up on top of the cord. I wish I could help more but most of my personal experience is with Atwood 1/16” and tarried siene cords. Also, I’m not sure if you did this, but you can get paracord to lay flatter by removing the core.

Hello All.

Here is a little reading for you.

Vol/Issue......Article......................Author.........................Page.
18/5 Handles, Cord Under Glass. By Tom Kirkman. 16
9/3 Handles, Cord Wrapped . By Emory Harry. 10
15/6 Handles, Corded Tennessee By Tom Kirkman. 22


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

It is not paracord!

Hello All.

Some reading for your enjoyment.

Volume/Issue.......Article................Author..................Page.
18/5 Cord Under Glass. By Tom Kirkman. 16
9/3 Cord Wrapped Handles. (Emory Harry). 10
15/6 Corded Tennessee By Tom Kirkman. 22

Have Fun.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.