Taking Care of Cork Gripps

[Peter E.]

Hey Fella’s, I was looking for a bit of advise. What is the best way to take care of my cork handles on my fly rods. The reason I ask is that I have an old Scott SVS that is near and dear, but my handle is showing its age. Any advise on what to do?

thanks fellas,
Peter E.

[Zach Matthews]

Peter –

You can sand them with fine grit sandpaper (400 or so) to knock the scuzz off.

[Peter E.]

Thanks Zach but I was kinda more looking to find a conditioner for the cork. Kinda give it some love. I haven’t had the problems you mentioned yet so I am hoping to avoid them. But I will keep these methods in mind.

[Mike Anderson]

I use U-40 cork sealer before I ever even cast a new rod. It extends the life of the cork for a very long time. It darkens it a bit, but not much. Great stuff.

[randy ratliff]

I use the Scrubbing Bubbles Foam spray bathroom cleaner, spray on the cork and let it soak for 30 to 40 seconds, then use a wash cloth to scrub it. It usually takes two applications to get a good clean. This also moisturizes the cork and makes it feel new.

[Peter E.]

Thanks Mike, that U40 was kinda what I had in mind. I am too much of a chicken to try the Scrubbing bubbles.

So how do I clean the cork before I add something like the U40 or try Zach’s advise?

[john t.]

Magic Eraser.

[Jay Hake]

The way most restorationists clean dirty cork is with toothpaste and your hand.

[Bob Riggins]

Use Zacks advice first.  I don’t like soft scrub or products like it because it is hard to get the residue out of the small voids in the cork.  This is particularly true if you are going to use a sealer.  The residue will show up as white specks.

I use Tru Oil on the cork/burl grips I make, but U-40 cork sealer works just as well.  Either will darken the cork slighly, but they also bring out any flaws in the cork.  The cork will also have a slightly harder feel, but not slick.

If it were me, I would just leave it alone.  

[brian dunigan]

Nothing better than an old, sweat stained cork handle.

[anonymous]

Nothing better than an old, sweat stained cork handle.  It shows a rod has character.

bd

A+

[Scott Kessler]

A damp Wonder Cloth cleans up a cork grip pretty well too.

[Jack Cummings]

If it were me, I would just leave it alone.  

Bingo! Up until it’s time to sell the rod or it just gets too slick to grip well, let it be.
Cork to me is like fine leather-wear, it has that warm, natural feel to it. I don’t much like sitting on leather sofas that have plastic slip covers over them. That is exactly what some treated cork feels like to me.
But, to each his/her own.

[Author]

Posts