2 handles..

Good job Luke, the handles look great.

Yep nice work - the dark burl inserts on the grips look good. Sure the kids will be delighted!

Cheers!! The inserts are speckled cork rings from guides n blanks, they're really nice to work, like a reliable composite cork that it the same quality (lack of holes) as top class Flor cork.. Also comes in about 5 colours, I'm thinking about doing the whole handle of the next rod with it.. It'd work out cheaper than half decent cork by quite a margin!

Luke Pritchard said:

Cheers!! The inserts are speckled cork rings from guides n blanks, they're really nice to work, like a reliable composite cork that it the same quality (lack of holes) as top class Flor cork.. Also comes in about 5 colours, I'm thinking about doing the whole handle of the next rod with it.. It'd work out cheaper than half decent cork by quite a margin!

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Good quality cork is like hens teeth these days and the difinition of 'quality' seems to have been somewhat downgraded in recent years too. Even on high end factory fly rods the grip seems to have a significant amount of filler these days. I always like to give all my rods a coat of cork preserver when I buy them or build them - it is good stuff but it really highlights the flaws in poor cork once it is on!

I find poor cork looks good with a liberal coat of fish slime!!

Great job on the handles Luke, they look really good. How did you turn them? Do you have a wood lathe or did you fit the handle to a drill? Haven't had chance to try this myself yet.

Hi, I have a lathe and use bits of old rod blanks wrapped in sand paper to ream the cork sections out then I push fit them onto other bits of blank and turn them in the lathe. The final finishing is done on the rod once the whole thing is glued up. Then because of my stinginess lashings of cork filler is applied and then sanded.. I haven't done this yet to the rods in the picture and I probably won't do too much fettling to them, they are, after all, for my boys and we'll get some slime on them in due course!!

Cheers, Luke.

Yep, got that great tip too about using old rod blanks with sandpaper glued on for reaming out centrally.

An old School rod. Builder also suggested I should glue each piece to the blank and then to the next and then sand it down after its fitted. The reason for this was to try and reduce the likely hood of any gaps where water could get through the cork? If it happens it will knacker the cork quickly I think? And it's dificult too ensure full coverage of the glue when you twist the finished handle down.

Anyway I have a reasonable quote for a bulk buy (500 rings) of flor grade cork if you fancy going halves? Let me know. Haven't been able to bring myself to stump up for the full amount yet.

I share your reservations about gluing sections of corks on but I've started using a polyurethane foaming glue to stick them on with so although it's non structural in large voids the foaming action does mean you get really good adhesion and any voids are filled.. I probably wouldn't trust epoxy to do the job as well but no failures in that camp yet.. I don't have a hollow tail stock on the lathe otherwise I'd glue it as you describe and turn the handles in situ.. PM incoming RE corks!!

Interesting, I have to admit this is only what I was told from an old school rod builder. I have seen many builders including the guys at flex coat build the handles then glue them on as one piece so it may not make much difference. What brand of glue is it you used? I might have to try some of that it would certainly make cork handles easier.


Cheers

I had some Joiners Mate lying around the workshop so I used that.. Can be found at Screwfix.. My dad's been building rods since the 50's and he always used to build the handles one ring at a time.. Time will tell if my system works.. So far so good but I wouldn't call it proven yet!!

Tell me to shut if this is complete rubbish... lol

Is there anyway to recycle old cork rod handles??
If modern cork is that bad it may be worth buying all those unloved rods at the boot fares

The boot sale rods usually have pretty shit cork on them... If the dozen or so I have are anything to go by!! Interesting problem to solve though

A 14 post (and counting ) cork thread...............................its been a long winter!

Michael Stevens said:

A 14 post (and counting ) cork thread...............................its been a long winter!

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:muttley:

On a serious note I suppose you could cut them from the blank and use a cork jig to turn them into new rings?