I know cork handles are "traditional" and they make things look nice, but there's got to be some rubber grips out there that could/would/should(?) replace them. I'd think they'd be cheaper(??). Last longer??
Heresy!! :)
Let the flames commence ;)
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I know cork handles are "traditional" and they make things look nice, but there's got to be some rubber grips out there that could/would/should(?) replace them. I'd think they'd be cheaper(??). Last longer??
Heresy!! :)
Let the flames commence ;)
EVA foam has been used for years. I have a cheap fly rod with an EVA handle. I could be wrong but I would guess that EVA is lighter than cork. If it is true why don't the people that worry about the few hundred thousands of an ounce difference in single foot over snake guide use them?
EVA foam has limits when it comes to custom grips though. At least for the average home builder.
i would hope that nobody flames anybody who finds a solid foam rubber cylinder and turns it into a fly rod grip. its a personal choice and everybody should respect that.
these days the custom/home rod makers are making grips out of solid wood so a foam grip should be easy to make.
why does cork need to be repalced?
could guides be bonded to the blank without overwrapping with thread, saving another one millionth of an ounce in weight??
I had a Berkley Curt Gowdy 8' 6/7 wt rod with a rubber grip that I bought on ebay a few years back. Nice rod, but just couldn't get use to the non cork feel. Sold the rod soon after he died for twice what I paid for it.
I was always TOLD by rod builders that foam makes the caster "squeeze" the rod tighter to get "feedback"...thusly tiring the hand out mucho quicker........hence the reason I never built a fly rod with a foam grip.
I prefer to build rods "as close to" traditional looking as I can.
Anything but cork just doesn't feel right! I've got a spinning rod with a foam grip, and never use it. Doesn't have the right feel!
I understant that there is limited supply of cork available for bottles. That's why a lot of recently vinted wines use a composite " cork " to seal the bottle.
Is this cork OK for rod handles???
Cork handles will be replaced when they pry them from my cold, dead, hands.
Here's a blog about the Loop AEG rod series, which uses a cork & composite material for the handle. This seems like a good idea, since cork can often get "slippery" when wet. But I haven't tested the rod to see how it really feels.
http://www.flyfishingfilmtour.com/bl...eg-series.html
I'm sure cork will go right after bamboo. Even if they find somthing that has the feel of cork it will still not be totaly replaced.
Eric