Do you guys seal the cork on new rods?

[Junger]

5 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Since this old thread got bumped up I’ll ask it here, has anyone ever experience U40 getting gritty?

Yes, right after applying the U40 I feel like it changes the smooth, rubbery texture of cork to a very fine grit sandpaper like finish. But after using it and getting fish slime on the cork, I stop noticing it.

 

So for me, it's cork-> layer of U40 -> layers of hand oil + fish slime = feelsgoodman!

[deadadrift89]

I did several rods last year and never experienced that, but my sealant was new at time. I just cleaned old cork with magic eraser and rinsed with water. New rods just wiped with wet rag. I used cheap foam brushes that were sealed and put rods in closed room till dry. It didn't change the feel of any rods but it did darken the cork a shade.

[Mike L]

5 hours ago, LionHeart said:

This reminds me of going over to some of my older relatives' houses (grand parents and such) and seeing their sofa wrapped in clear plastic.  Some of you younger folks may not have ever experienced this, but it used to be a thing.

 

I always used to wonder how they could stand never being about to enjoy the feeling of the sofa fabric due to the plastic protector.  

 

 

I still have permanent creases from my shoulders to my thighs!! 

??

 

 

 

 

Mike

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, Junger said:

Yes, right after applying the U40 I feel like it changes the smooth, rubbery texture of cork to a very fine grit sandpaper like finish. But after using it and getting fish slime on the cork, I stop noticing it.

 

So for me, it's cork-> layer of U40 -> layers of hand oil + fish slime = feelsgoodman!

Huh, this is the first one that felt that way for me and it's not an even grit, but some patches I can feel but not see.  Very fine like 500g sandpaper is about what it feels like.  An hour's use today more or less made it go away in any case.  

[Bankbeater]

I’ve only wiped down my rods. Never have applied anything to them. 

[Crestliner2008]

I've been using U40 for many decades on all my cork handles. Never had that happen to me. Not sure what's going on there. It's not how you are applying it. I use a dipped paper towel myself. Could it be that it got frozen at some point and that changed it's composition? I talk to a lot of anglers and this is the first I've heard of this problem.

[fishwizzard]

7 hours ago, Crestliner2008 said:

I've been using U40 for many decades on all my cork handles. Never had that happen to me. Not sure what's going on there. It's not how you are applying it. I use a dipped paper towel myself. Could it be that it got frozen at some point and that changed it's composition? I talk to a lot of anglers and this is the first I've heard of this problem.

I am thinking that the grit came from my cheap brushes, next time I will buy a fancy $1 foam brush. 

[NorthernBasser]

Question. How often do you have to apply the U40? 

[mrpao]

From what I've noticed it gets that gritty texture if the UB40 has been open for awhile. It seems to start drying out around the edge of the container and those pieces will flake off and get in the solution. Once applied and dried you can feel the pieces on the cork.

If you start off with a fresh container and clean brush, it will usually end up fairly smooth and uniform.

[J Francho]

22 minutes ago, mrpao said:

From what I've noticed it gets that gritty texture if the UB40 has been open for awhile.

It's from the sulfates in the wine.

 

[A-Jay]

18 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It's from the sulfates in the wine.

 

LOL ~

Good way to wrap up the year.

A-Jay 

[PotatoLake]

Hey all I'm bumping the post back to the future. Quick question, if you have rods that are used and cleaned with a Magic Eraser, can you still apply u40 or is it too late? As in, U40 is for new rods only.

[MN Fisher]

I did exactly this to a 40 year old Diawa 1312 ML/F rod I had sitting around still in good shape. Cleaned the cork, then sealed it...now it looks almost new.

[PotatoLake]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

I did exactly this to a 40 year old Diawa 1312 ML/F rod I had sitting around still in good shape. Cleaned the cork, then sealed it...now it looks almost new.

Excellent news. I just got a new rod, and decided I was going to seal it, and then decided why not tackle a few more if I can clean them up and use U40 on them as well. Thanks!

[Darth-Baiter]

Nope.  I never heard of the sealant until I joined the forum.  My rods get rough looking for sure, but whatever.  I don’t ogle them lovingly anyways.  Tools.  

[waymont]

On 3/13/2016 at 9:06 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:

Absolutely not. Cork is used for a reason. Sealing it changes for me the reason it is used for a handle in the first place. I prefer cork as cork is meant to be.

I have some rods that have been exposed to the elements for decades and are well weather worn. I like the feel of this weathered cork even more than new. I just do not understand the use of a sealant, but this is just my opinion. I would seal floors, wood decks outside, wood siding on a house, but a fishing rod handle? Hell no. Not me.

If I ever got a rod with sealant on the cork it would be sanded off or a new natural cork handle would be put on it.

As a side note, one of my fishing friends had a new rod with the plastic shrink wrap still on the cork handle. I can't tell you how long he used that rod with the brand new plastic shrink wrap still on the cork handle. It had to of been slippery as heck when wet. I can't imagine how using sealant would be all that different???

I'd like to ask those who use sealant- why? And does it make them more slippery when wet?

U40 added to a cork handle doesn’t change the feel at all. It’s such a fine layer that is added.

[Rob St Croix]

U40 goes on every stick I buy.

[BayouSlide]

Nope. Small potatoes.

[Log Catcher]

I cleaned and put U40 sealer on my rods this past winter. First time I had ever done this. I did have to put some wood filler on the handles as they were getting in  pretty bad shape. I used Magic Eraser sponges to clean them. Some of my rods are over 20 years old. I will definitely put U40 on any new rods I buy.

[ATA]

Yes Always I do seal all of them once open the box and leave it for 24 hours and start to use the rod.

[SproDD79]

U 40 goes on every cork handle rod I own. I rarely need to re-apply, but if I do have to re-apply, I sand down the entire handle to smooth it out and make it even, at that point I apply another thin coat. 

[Columbia Craw]

I shall use no rod yet in be sealed and christened with the sweet dew of U40

[NavyToad]

Never heard of such a thing. I wonder how I ever survived.

[thunderblack]

new or pre-owned and cleaned.....I use U40 on everything. Killer product!

[Darth-Baiter]

you all have seen cork handle failures? or they just because aesthetically unpleasing to the eye.?