As a woodworker, I would fill in my putty and let dry to a damp stage. Then I would use a damp sponge and wipe off the excess putty. This way, I won't have to sand as much. I just refinished a cork handle using 4/0 steel wool. Not only did it remove the dirt, but made the handle very smooth as well. That finish looks very much like a water base polyurethane by Minwax. Which will work just as well for the fraction of the cost.
Great advice! It's a simple process that adds years to the life of your grips. I just use a super thin layer of polyurethane to seal up the cork. Never had any issues.
This stuff does work really well. I've coated multiple new cork handled rods with it, and the cork on them after 2 seasons still looks and feels great and is much easier to clean. I took some super light grit sand paper and make a few passes on the new cork, just enough to scuff it.... and then a coat of cork seal. After that cleaning is as easy as warm water on a cloth or rag, and a wipe down. I had always heard you weren't supposed to seal cork because it needed to "breathe". What I've seen personally, is the opposite. All my "breathing" cork has breathed itself into obliteration. I fish freshwater though mind you, maybe salt is different. Anyway... great tip!
Like many fishermen my collection of rods has grown over the years. The value of those rods has also grown. So a few years ago I decided I’d do more to keep them looking like new. Fun thing to do when our lakes are frozen and each spring I have fun using really nice equipment I understand and like. Proper care has also reduced the need to buy expensive replacements. Great video! Thank you!
Thank you for a most insightful seminar. I thought I owned expensive junk rods due to the cork deterioration. I’m relieved to have a solution that will extend the life of my rods for just pennies. Happy New Year and thank you for being you.
This was really helpful. I have my dad's Wright and McBill Sunrise fly rod and have been restoring it. Now, everything looks great and the cork handle is next. Thank you
Man that’s awesome, that’s a good winter project… We maintenance our reels but most people don’t pay any attention to the rod. I’m guilty of that myself. Great video!
Thank you Fluke for another great instructional video! Side note I was on the fence on which color of the Flukemaster Men’s Trademark Tee to get and seeing the blue one in this video made my mind wow great color.
Thanks for the tips! Last rod I bought still has the plastic sleeve on the cork. Now I can finally remove it and not spend a ton of time on rod cleaning.
A friend gave me a rod and reel that was buried in a corner of his garage, reel is toast but the rod is good. Except for the cork, it’s dry dry. Can I clean it and then follow what you did?
Nice work man! Appreciate the shout out! The rods that I did years ago still look brand new! Get my link in the description 😉 Thank you brother! Happy New Year! 👊💪
Gene, that's a great video. Happy New Year to you. I am guilty for using alcohol to get the dirt and grime off. I will start using the Magic Cleaner now on. I have used a paste from wood glue and sanded cork dust. I then use Birchwood Casey Tru Oil for sealant.
So that means if you are to build a rod, it's better to use the best quality of cork then, as they don't have or have very little holes and marks, hence there's nothing to fill?
I just scrub mine down with head-n-shoulders shampoo. cleans up pretty quick. heard it about 25 yrs ago. It breaks down the oil from your hands. works for me..
Soft scrub with bleach works well for dirty looking cork, just lightly clean/scrub with water and let dry and then seal with cork seal. Especially if you are selling old rods.
I had a discussion with another angler the other day about cork vs other materials. I made the argument that a cork grip is actually a high end feature. With foam or synthetic grips, the manufacturer just punches the numbers into the computer and they are mass produced. Cork has to be grown and cut to shape and fitted to a rod specifically. I'm sure there's some computerization involved but not the same way. Not many manufacturers are using cork now. Is it because of cost or market trend?
Using walnut stain polyurethane to seal the cork does a fine job of blending the cork and new filler. I prefer to let the walnut stain sealer stay on the cork for about 15 minutes. The I take a cotton t-shirt and gently wipe the polyurethane off. This seals the cork, retains the feel of the cork, and the color of the grip is more uniform and natural for my bamboo fly rods and other rods that tend to be darker on color tone. U40 is fine, but I buy an 8 ounce can of water based Minwax Polycrilic and find it is identical to U40. It is easier to use the can with a small foam brush. My local hardware store carries this product. I refurbish and restore many rods with cork handles, since I collect and fish spinning and fly rods. I also buy and sell them as a hobby. Ron, uhlrl@cfu.net, NE Iowa.
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As a woodworker, I would fill in my putty and let dry to a damp stage. Then I would use a damp sponge and wipe off the excess putty. This way, I won't have to sand as much. I just refinished a cork handle using 4/0 steel wool. Not only did it remove the dirt, but made the handle very smooth as well. That finish looks very much like a water base polyurethane by Minwax. Which will work just as well for the fraction of the cost.
Great advice! It's a simple process that adds years to the life of your grips. I just use a super thin layer of polyurethane to seal up the cork. Never had any issues.
This stuff does work really well. I've coated multiple new cork handled rods with it, and the cork on them after 2 seasons still looks and feels great and is much easier to clean. I took some super light grit sand paper and make a few passes on the new cork, just enough to scuff it.... and then a coat of cork seal. After that cleaning is as easy as warm water on a cloth or rag, and a wipe down. I had always heard you weren't supposed to seal cork because it needed to "breathe". What I've seen personally, is the opposite. All my "breathing" cork has breathed itself into obliteration. I fish freshwater though mind you, maybe salt is different. Anyway... great tip!
Amish leprechaun here!
Thank you for this video! This is what I’ve been needing for awhile now. Keep up the great informative videos.
Glad it was helpful!
Best gear advice I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks flukemaster
Wow, thanks!
Like many fishermen my collection of rods has grown over the years. The value of those rods has also grown. So a few years ago I decided I’d do more to keep them looking like new. Fun thing to do when our lakes are frozen and each spring I have fun using really nice equipment I understand and like. Proper care has also reduced the need to buy expensive replacements. Great video! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for a most insightful seminar. I thought I owned expensive junk rods due to the cork deterioration.
I’m relieved to have a solution that will extend the life of my rods for just pennies.
Happy New Year and thank you for being you.
Glad it was helpful!
This was really helpful. I have my dad's Wright and McBill Sunrise fly rod and have been restoring it. Now, everything looks great and the cork handle is next. Thank you
Baby wipes work like a champ for cleaning cork grips.
Yes they do
Man that’s awesome, that’s a good winter project… We maintenance our reels but most people don’t pay any attention to the rod. I’m guilty of that myself. Great video!
If this isn't the neatest thing I don't know what is. Gene this is an awesome tip. Thank you for sharing!
Glad it was helpful!
I'm gunna have to do this this winter. Have some 3 and 4 year old rods that really need it. Thanks for showing us how!
You bet!
ive used cork grease for instruments from a local music store. it works quite well.
Gene's an OG. Would love to see you chase some muskie
Thank you Fluke for another great instructional video! Side note I was on the fence on which color of the Flukemaster Men’s Trademark Tee to get and seeing the blue one in this video made my mind wow great color.
Good choice! Thank you!!!
Thanks for the tips! Last rod I bought still has the plastic sleeve on the cork. Now I can finally remove it and not spend a ton of time on rod cleaning.
Glad I could help!
Nice advice Gene ... Never thought about that before... God only knows I have enough time before spring... Thanks again Buddy 😊😊
You bet
Will this work for a missing chunk of cork? The edge of my split grip has nice gouge in it
What's the makers name on the green casting rod it looks great.
Does wood filler work on big gaps/holes in the cork? I mistakenly took a big chunk out of my cork handle. Thanks
A friend gave me a rod and reel that was buried in a corner of his garage, reel is toast but the rod is good. Except for the cork, it’s dry dry. Can I clean it and then follow what you did?
Wow awsome video man thanks I got a ugly stik lite pro casting rod with full cork grip
I’d like to see some reel maintenance. To make them feel as smooth as they where when it was new. Also how to eliminate the squeal on casts .
I think Gene has done a reel maintenance video some years ago. Check out his older videos.
I'm gonna be working on that video next week
@@Flukemaster awesome
Well done, many thanks!
Nice work man! Appreciate the shout out! The rods that I did years ago still look brand new! Get my link in the description 😉 Thank you brother! Happy New Year! 👊💪
Ok will do
@@Flukemaster YOU THE MAN!!
Mine got chewed up by mice in a storage unit. Enough of it was chewed off to fit a finger on the bare rod. Any ideas for repair?
Gene, that's a great video. Happy New Year to you. I am guilty for using alcohol to get the dirt and grime off. I will start using the Magic Cleaner now on. I have used a paste from wood glue and sanded cork dust. I then use Birchwood Casey Tru Oil for sealant.
So that means if you are to build a rod, it's better to use the best quality of cork then, as they don't have or have very little holes and marks, hence there's nothing to fill?
Great tips every time. Giant thumbs up. Happy New Year!
I got me some uv40 and did my ugly stik lite pro thanks 😊
I just scrub mine down with head-n-shoulders shampoo. cleans up pretty quick. heard it about 25 yrs ago. It breaks down the oil from your hands. works for me..
When I get a new cork rod I use a polyurethane exterior varnish seems to work quite well but you have a smooth gloss type finish.
I was just looking at a 13 fishing tickle stick pondering what to do about those little cork pieces!
Perfect!
Great video definitely have to give this a try...thx Flukemaster! Happy New Year bud!
Happy new year!
My Little Lucy rod is almost new. I think I’m gonna get a bottle of that protectant and put a coat on it before it gets too dirty to start with.
Soft scrub with bleach works well for dirty looking cork, just lightly clean/scrub with water and let dry and then seal with cork seal. Especially if you are selling old rods.
Excellent vid Gene.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Haha! Just ordered some from Mudhole yesterday! Stoked!
Nice!!
Great information thank you
What kinds of wood filler did you used
Elmer's is popular for cork repair.
But looks like he used DAP
I had a discussion with another angler the other day about cork vs other materials. I made the argument that a cork grip is actually a high end feature. With foam or synthetic grips, the manufacturer just punches the numbers into the computer and they are mass produced. Cork has to be grown and cut to shape and fitted to a rod specifically. I'm sure there's some computerization involved but not the same way. Not many manufacturers are using cork now. Is it because of cost or market trend?
I agree and I think it's both market trend and they are happy to do it because of reduction of cost.
You should do a reel cleaning video.
I will soon
Great video once again
Do they still make the gen 1 fate?
Nope. A similar one is now the new Fate Black it's a 3rd Generation upgrade.
@@Flukemaster that's the all white one right? I think it looks amazing but something about that green that just pops for me.
Thanks for the video. Great info. Please work on your focus issues when doing close up shots or just don’t use them. Again....thanks and great video.
What is on your hat?
That is slicker than Goose $h!t on glass! Thanks Gene.
Nice
Thanks
I always though "destructions" was apt. 😁
Magic erasers clean cork grips fast.
Just remember that a white magic eraser will take all the original wood filler out of cork. Just in case people are trying to clean and UV only.
howdy Gene!
I have a bottle, I feel like one bottle will last you a lifetime so it's well worth the price
It sure will.
Using walnut stain polyurethane to seal the cork does a fine job of blending the cork and new filler. I prefer to let the walnut stain sealer stay on the cork for about 15 minutes. The I take a cotton t-shirt and gently wipe the polyurethane off. This seals the cork, retains the feel of the cork, and the color of the grip is more uniform and natural for my bamboo fly rods and other rods that tend to be darker on color tone. U40 is fine, but I buy an 8 ounce can of water based Minwax Polycrilic and find it is identical to U40. It is easier to use the can with a small foam brush. My local hardware store carries this product. I refurbish and restore many rods with cork handles, since I collect and fish spinning and fly rods. I also buy and sell them as a hobby. Ron, uhlrl@cfu.net, NE Iowa.