I'm a self admitted weight weenie when it comes to rods. I happen to really like beautiful near flawless cork so I've been making short cork Tennessee type handles with no fillers. They are sure light. I can get a 5" handle assembled and installed at sub 10 grams or .35 oz. Question - does anyone have any other 5" handle material that can beat 10 grams once you factor in arbor an
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Ok so I have a few grips I plan to use on upcoming builds, the CFX and the Carbon Fiber Batson grips..... So I have NEVER used these on a rod before, I am accustomed to cork or EVA, or even a WINN grip. So opting to try out the Carbon Fiber grips would be stepping out for me. That being said, aside from ascetics, do these serve much of a purpose. I rarely have my hands on the grips unless I a
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Need to to very slightly enlarge a Fuji Skeleton Seat. The insert I plan to use will fit but I got to force it. Insert is carbon fiber so sanding it down is not a option. The seat is .610. Probable want to go to .620 to .625. My glue up plan is reel seat thread on arbor let cure. Insert glued well to blank and just barely inserted into threaded portion. Minimal epoxy between insert and threaded s
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Just received some. Feel like there is nothing over the carbon fiber. Anyone used them? What did you coat them with? Is it mandatory to coat them? Feels like it would take a few coats of epoxy or dozens of coats of Permagloss. Wasn't expecting that.
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I am thinking about making some small Tennessee handles out of the graphite arbor foam material with the woven graphite skin over top. I plan on attaching the reel with the graphite slip rings. Is there any reason to be. concerned that the arbors will deform from the reel foot over time? It seems like the graphite foam materials is rigid enough to hold its shape over time. Thank you for your
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In your opinion what is the most significant change in rod-building techniques or materials over the last ten years or so?
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I'm looking to try out the new G2 handles but I think I want a size 17 aero instead of a 16 as I have big hands. It appears these handles are built for 16 size aero seats. This rod will be an 8'6" mag taper lamiglas certified pro XSH 102 2 MT. I plan to use it for chucking spinners and twitching jogs for coho,maybe light beach duty for throwing swim baits to stripers. Any input would be grea
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Hello, I'm planning a spinning build (dropshot rod for bass) and am considering the AT AERO seat. This will by my first spinning build, and I haven't handled an AERO seat or something similar. Does anyone know of a factory rod with this style of seat that I can go handle? I see that BPS has a couple of their branded rods with a hump that somewhat resembles the AERO hump, but that's the cl
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I have been curious as to the efficiency of foam cores to transmit the vibrations (feel) from the blank to the outer skin and ultimately the hand or fingers, be it a CF skinned grip or reel seat insert. If feeling the vibrations of the blank is paramount, then direct contact with the blank itself would produce the ultimate sensation of such. Foam, by nature, possesses an insulating property, both
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Probably a dumb question but can you use all burl cork rings to build a handle, i found a company that has a selection of all different designs that look really good. Or do you just use them for trim bands. Thanks
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I just received a new CTS carbon fiber grip (full wells) it is unlike any carbon fiber grip I have seen, handled or made. The interior foam is elastic, yet the exterior of the grip is ridged. The surface they advertise as "silk touch" with a very light rubberized feel. When the grip is dropped on a hard surface, it sounds like a glass tube! Really unique and unusual. Has anyone had e
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What's your favorite handle material? Are you a traditionalist and prefer cork? Maybe you like the tacky grip of the Winn handles. Maybe a plain black EVA is more your style. Have you gone to the dark side and built with carbon fiber materials? Let's here some of your favorite handles and why you like them! Feel free to post opinions on handle materials you don't like too!
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Out of curiosity, what would you name as the most significant innovation in rod building components and the most significant innovation in rod building techniques in the last 10 years or so?
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I'm taking a stab at making my first set of customer carbon fiber grips using the CFX kit from mudhole. I'm making a split grip for a casting rod, and my question comes in on how is everyone finishing the butt end of the split grip as there will be a not insignificant hole from the ferrule.? Are you just using metal or EVA butt caps, or doing some sort of inlay that you're epoxing in place? An
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Hi everyone, This is my first post. Im only on my 5th build but learned a lot here so thanks to Tom and everyone who shared advice in the hundreds of posts that helped me along the way. They all turned out better than expected and I’ve loved the process. I’ve been trying to figure out how important laminating epoxy is to structural integrity of the urethane foam cores sold for carbon fiber gr
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Just built on a .585 butt blank using carbon fiber CFX grips. When the fighting butt was reamed the foam core was paper thin and split when it was put on. Using a EVA butt cap that fits the core. If you were to build on a blank with a larger butt diameter would you cut the foam core tenon off and ream the butt more or opt for a different grip. Unsure if reaming the cores so much compromises the c
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Since we had the input on Winn Grip durability a few weeks ago, what is everyone's opinion on carbon fiber grips holding up under heavy use.
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Planning a set of freshwater live bait rods and will be using the flocked heat shrink. I’m assuming the best option is to use an EVA grips as a “base”, or are there other preferable options?
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Hello Rodbuilding family, We have a new carbon fiber soft touch grip: (we have hundreds of sets in stock, but I imagine that they will go quick) We also started our annual sale - up to 70% on any blank. Thank You, North Fork Composites
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Hello all! I have been trying my hand at Carbon fiber grip making. 1. Measure, cut, form foam core - NO PROBLEM 2. Wet out foam core, put on the carbon sleeve, wet out - NO PROBLEM 3. Add additional coats of the same epoxy (aeromarine #300 with aeromarine #21 hardener - BIG PROBLEM!!! When I add additional coats I start getting what I will call - craters. I don’t touch the grip after the
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Guys, some questions.....ordered the CFX grip making kit from Mudhole. Just finished shaping and gluing up some foregrips but still well into the learning curve. Rear grip comes next. First ques....once the grip is cured, what is the best way to cut it to length. I've thought about blue taping over the spot to cut and using my miter saw. Sounds like overkill but I figure that's my best way
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Has anyone successfully removed carbon fiber grips? I only ask as I have a few sets on rods that have broken and might like to try and salvage them. My guess would be to try and boil them just as you do cork. I tried the search function but didn’t find anything Thanks Tom
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I need to ream a 12" carbon fiber grip with a urethane foam core. Do the Flex Coat reverse pilot spade bits work well on foam cores? I have only seen those discussed for use with cork and somewhat EVA. If not, what other options are there besides my CRB reamer set? And what if the diameter of the blank is larger than the inside diameter of the carbon fiber that wraps over the end of th
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Forum Members, I am about to start my very first rod build project and I have been trolling the site for as much information as I can gather without taking up your time asking questions that have already been asked and answered. I have ordered two St Croix 5SW70MF for a pair of Inshore rods, one spinning and one Baitcasting mainly for speckled Trout. I want to go with the split handle grips and
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Hi all, I have a CTS Affinity X 9' 7wt 4pc fly blank that I am considering fitting out with a carbon sleeved foam core grip. I have never seen one of these grips in person, but intrigued by the good press the type gets in terms of lightness and sensitivity. I am considering ordering the grip from Mudhole, the CFX 7.5" with cut out. My questions to those who have experience with these
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I have made a Mold out of Silicone to cast my own foam cores for carbon fiber grips. My 1st attempts at this are definitely not acceptable. I will be picking up a paint mixer tomorrow to try it again. I had large air bubbles in the foam when I cut it open (for inspection) as well as resin visible instead of the cream colored foam. I attribute this to not being properly mixed. I will fix that iss
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While I have applied typical, 1-to-1 thread finish to wraps over blanks finished with PermaGlos numerous times without a single issue, what happens when inversely applied? The Xylene in PG is very aggressive and hence makes the mix quite “hot”. Of special concern is applying PG over “green” epoxy (cured less than 1 week). What are your experiences?
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Is Birchwood Casey Tru Oil compatible with bamboo? I am building a bamboo handle and down-locking, concealed thread fore-grip. They are not split cane as found in rods and blanks but rather whole culms cut to employ the nodes at the ends. Do any of you have experience finishing bamboo? I employed PermaGloss to seal and finish the one split-cane blank I have built. While PG would probably afford t
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Anyone used it as a main wrapping thread and how does it hold up?
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I bought a couple of kits from Mudhole but I was wondering if any of you guys or girls by the supplies and parts that are not in a kit. If so- where? Looking for different sizes or options.
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