Reducing a cork handle

[Gonzo]

I have just taken stock of a new rod and the cork handle is a touch thick for me.
What I want to do is reduced the handles thickness, but not by much. How, exactly, is the best way to go about doing this?

[jrt]

Go fishing with it a couple of times and your big monkey hands will crush it down

[Gonzo]

jrt said:

Go fishing with it a couple of times and your big monkey hands will crush it down

LOL ;D Love it!

That's the thing though, I don't have big hands. A vice like grip maybe.

[Silver Stoat]

Gonzo,

Have a look here :

flyforums.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=rodbuilding&action=display&thread=1130887322

If you can find a way of turning it, that is the quickest and easiest way of doing it - see the replies to that topic.
Use a medium grade of paper to start with and stop often to check how it's going.
I would remove it from the lathe/electric drill to feel how the thickness and shape is changing before resuming sanding.

If you cannot find a way of turning it then you can do the job by hand. Just sand evenly as you rotate the handle.
Cork is soft and you can take a lot off relatively quickly so do constantly check progress.

In both cases, when you have got it down close to the dimension/shape you want, finish off with a fine grade paper and polish with a very fine grade.

Dave.

[3lbgrayling]

i have had two handles reduced by a friend,who uses a b&decker,both times he has made me leave the room as it is pretty brutal and he finds it better if the rod owner is not present. ;D.i asked him if he had ever broken a rod.he just laughed but i know he has made and adapted 100s of handles.

jim

[Gonzo]

Thanks guys.

Not sure I trust myself to do it and I don't have any way of turning the rod either.
If it was a cheap rod I'd have a go - but it's the saltwater version of a Sage TCR (4-piece) 6#.

I think I'll have to get a professional to look at it. As you say Jim I couldn't bear to watch either, let alone do it myself!

[The Handsome Stick]

gonzo said:

Thanks guys.

Not sure I trust myself to do it and I don't have any way of turning the rod either.
If it was a cheap rod I'd have a go - but it's the saltwater version of a Sage TCR (4-piece) 6#.

I think I'll have to get a professional to look at it. As you say Jim I couldn't bear to watch either, let alone do it myself!

If it makes you feel any better I'm new to rod building and I found it really easy. A few wraps of masking tape around the ferrule, tighten it into the drill chuck. Support the rod, power up the drill and just apply sandpaper to the cork until you reach the desired shape.

[waterwhipper]

Do it slow, and don't use any grit under 180 as it may tear out .....

[Silver Stoat]

Quote :
"..If it makes you feel any better I'm new to rod building and I found it really easy. A few wraps of masking tape around the ferrule, tighten it into the drill chuck. Support the rod, power up the drill and just apply sandpaper to the cork until you reach the desired shape. .."


If you do it that way be very, very careful not to tighten the chuck too much - you could crack the ferrule.
Also you would have to make absolutely sure that there was no 'whip' when the rod rotated as this too would impose a dangerous strain on the ferrule.

Far better to make a 'cup' type holder from a plastic film or pill container and secure the butt of the rod in that. ( see the linked page in my first post)

I'm sure that you could do the job Handsome, just take your time and work carefully. When I first started, all of my handles were made by hand cutting and sanding - you can produce a symmetrical result by this method even when starting from scratch.

Dave.