Cork

[skeelernyc]

The cork on my 2 month old fly rod seems to be getting worn, should I be treating it with something?

The answer is not fishing less like my girlfriend suggested.

Fred

[Jon]

Is it worn or is it just dirty? They kinda look like that even after one or two uses. If you clean it with some gentle detergent it should look like new. Then you can put some kind of seal on it, but afraid i don't know what that is - others might?

If on the other hand the cork is coming away or getting holes, then return the rod. The cork is inferior or faulty. Good cork will pretty much last a life time.


K

[pvansch1]

If you clean it with a very mild detergent, be very gentle or will get ridging in it. You can seal it with the cork stuff they sell for cleaning / sealing Birkenstalk sandles.

[ANDREW W MANCHESTER JR]

Hello
We should not assume the the Grip is just soiled.
I have seen new rods that after very short periods of time the cork began to ware.
Some times manufactures use poor quality cork or cork that is of good quality that has premature failure.
I would recommend you contact the retailer you purchased the rod from they may replace the rod if the cork is prematurely worn.
I wouldn't recommend cleaning the cork before contacting the retailer or manufacturer they may claim that your cleaning methods or materials caused the problem .
If you have already cleaned the cork your return option may have been compromised.
Might I recommend that when you have a problem with any rod you contact a rod repair professional or your local tackle retailer rather than ask questions on these type boards .
A Fly Rod retailer and or Manufacturer knows the equipment best as they deal with the line on a long term basis and knows from first hand prior experiences all of the quality issues and are trained to handle your problem.
A rod repair Professional has the years of experience and knowledge needed to fully asses the problem and the steps that need to be taken to correct them.
Lets say the Rod is made by the XYZ company and the rod repair professional has dealt with XYZ rods in the past .
Many times the rod repair Professional has seen the problem in the past and many times has a contact person at the XYZ company and on his professional recommendation the XYZ company will replace the rod.
Many times when you put these type questions up for a board members recommendation the person answering your question while well intentioned may give you wrong advice unknowingly based on wrong information from your question or lack of prior experience with the XYZ rods.

My post was edited above and lost it's point due to the edit so I reworded it as to be sure not to offend any of the people that had given you advice.
I hope that will suffice.

PLEASE NEXT TIME ASK ME AND I WILL BE GLAD TO CHANGE MY OWN POST RATHER THAN HAVE IT DONE FOR ME !

If you have cleaned the cork and found that the cork was just dirty great.
If not then I suggest you bring the rod to a professional for assessment.

As for your cork seal question.
I would recommend U-40 cork seal.
The product is formulated for fishing rod handles and works great.
Best by design.
www.u-40.com (http://www.u-40.com) for more information on this product.

Tight Lines and Corked Loops
Andy M

[skeelernyc]

Ouch

your are 100 % correct, and I only intend to pick the brains of people who could have had similar problems and may know a solution.

some of the people here could be as knowledgeable as some of the sales clerks in some of this stores

once again thank you to everyone for their suggestions.

[TonyM]

I use U40 cork seal on all the rods I've built -- works great and I don't notice the minor change in feel. The grips look a LOT better after a year's use or so.

Tony M