Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Stein on February 10, 2025, 11:23:15 AM

Title: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: Stein on February 10, 2025, 11:23:15 AM: Really dumb question, but is this possible by just cutting/sanding the old one off and gluing a new one on? I have an old Loomis rod back from when Gary was there that has trashed cork. I would like to either replace the cork or switch to carbon or something that is more durable as my rod holders on the boat really aren't friendly to cork.

Any tips on how to start?
Title: Re: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: wadu1 on February 10, 2025, 12:35:54 PM: Haven't done for many years, we had a local rod builder show me how to do it. But that was 30 years ago or more. Lots of YouTube videos on how to do it. Material cost is about $30 for cork of go Eva foam.
Title: Re: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: chukardogs on February 10, 2025, 12:38:35 PM: If the reel seat is usable as is, what do you have to lose? Protect the rod with a metal tube or such. Cut length wise by hand carefully with a hack saw blade until you can flake away the cork. I do know the glue layer is relatively thick because they're filling a substantial void. The existing glue, only needs to be shaped enough to slide the new cork into place meaning you don't have to clean it all the way to the rod material. The new glue will bond just as well to the old glue as it will to the rod material. If you don't redo the reel seat, you'll probably have to remove whatever line guides that are on the lower half of the rod to slide the new cork into place.
I sure wish I had my old IM6 G. Loomis rods! Nicest casting rods from that era, IMO. I still use G. Loomis rods but they're all fiberglass now. Shoulder started giving me fits when I used my heavier rods more than a day or so. I went back to fiberglass and haven't had one issue since.
I just rebuilt the original Phillipson fly rod my father gave me 1970ish but didn't replace the handle. I think I may watch your progress and do mine also. Good luck
Title: Re: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: EnglishSetter on February 10, 2025, 01:37:18 PM: Just shrink wrap over the existing cork. If you have some voids, fill them so they don't telegraph through.

https://mudhole.com/collections/cord-shrink-tubing?srsltid=AfmBOoqA1IA-4I5QLY6-irbgxNoHfu7mW95jSqhpKpeipRHK0PJGwsW3

Just one how-to:
Title: Re: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: Bullkllr on February 10, 2025, 03:44:37 PM: :yeah:

If you're talking about the rear cork, you'll have to cut out the reel seat, foregrip, and any guides on that half of the rod besides the cork that needs fixing. Not hard, but a lot of steps in the process.
Title: Re: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: Stein on February 10, 2025, 04:06:27 PM: It's just the bottom grip, so I won't need to mess with the guides. Unfortunately it's too damaged for the shrink wrap, I would have to build up about half the grip on one side.

I like the carbon grips as I have one Okuma rod with them and it's nice not having cork soak up fish slime and blood, they just wipe off easily. From what I've seen, the carbon grips need to be hollowed out to match the rod blank diameter which probably requires more equipment and skill than I have.

Maybe I'll just re-cork it and not use it in the downriggers and then buy a new Okuma for the downriggers to match the one I already have.

Thanks for the help, I'm still researching other options as suggested.
Title: Re: Replacing cork handle on a fishing rod
Post by: Bullkllr on February 10, 2025, 04:48:20 PM: OK. I was thinking more total rebuild, but it is possible to work from the butt end. Biggest issue would be equalizing the rod diameter up to the reel seat with tape or ? arbors/bushings.

This guy talks about it but doesn't show a step by step starting around 5:20.