grip shortening opinions requested

[OkobojiEagle]

I have shortened several full cork rod grips, but this current rod presents a unique (to me) challenge.  I want to shorten the grip of a split grip spinning rod by the length of the butt cork.  I'm contemplating cutting the blank where the butt cork begins, sanding the outside of the blank above the cut and the inside of the blank below the cut until the 2" butt section will slip over the blank above the cut.  First, do you think I will be able to sand the two ends enough to allow the butt end piece of blank to slip over the remaining blank end.  Second, reattaching all of the original weight, will I end up with the same rod balance as before the modification although 2" less length behind the reel?  Any and all opinions and other suggestions are eagerly requested!

 

oe

[.ghoti.]

Considering wall thickness of today's blanks, I'd say you will not be able to do what you described. Your best bet would be to drill out the butt piece, and leave The section above the cut untouched. You could sand the part above the cut a little, but you risk weakening the blank by doing so.

If you think about, you really need to remove enough material to equal the wall thickness of the blank. if you took half from each section, you'd be left with a very weak section above the cut. Best to leave that part alone.

I'd be inclined to look on Mudhole or getbitoutdors, and buy a new butt grip piece, and ream or drill it out to fit.

[OkobojiEagle]

I understand exactly what you're telling me and have reservations for the same reason.  My comfortable casting grip needs my left hand 2" above the butt grip which is currently on bare rod blank.  My preference is to grip the cork butt.  Another option might be to build up the 2" above the butt cork and not cut any off the blank.  What product is available to build up the blank to the butt diameter?  Thanks.

 

oe

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Shortening the grip will no doubt affect the feel. Whether or not it will be in a negative way is hard to say. If you're set on reusing the butt drill it out like gotti suggested. 

[MickD]

Sounds to me like you're really trying to get some cork under your grip position which is up from the butt a  little.  One way is to cut the knob off and install a whole grip onto the blank.  Buy an appropriate grip and cut it to proper length by cutting the front where it will join the reel seat.  Easiest is a grip that will be bored through, then add a butt knob that you like.  Shape the grip at the front as you wish to get the transition you want.  Bore the grip so it will slip onto the the blank.  This will leave the front and maybe the middle a little loose  due to the taper of the blank.  Build the front and maybe middle of the grip of the blank up with masking tape to get a good fit to the grip.  When glueing the grip on with epoxy be sure to totally encapsulate the tape.  This will be a little costly, in my opinion, but will accomplish what you want.

If you don't mind mismatching materials you can put a section of EVA right above the existing knob.  Get the piece you want, bore it to size, slice it longitudinally so it will slip over the blank (using epoxy on the blank), then glue the slit closed with contact cement.  Slit positioned on the bottom.

Or, get used to feeling the blank.  I don't mind feeling that nice smooth blank instead of cork.  This will allow you to fish just about any shape without a problem.

[OkobojiEagle]

Valuable information from all... thank you.  I'm running through my head the idea of applying cork tape to the exposed blank then covering the cork tape with a shrink sleeve (both available from Mudhole).  This would build-up the exposed blank diameter very slightly and give me a less slippery surface to hold on to with my left hand.  Not exactly the same as having the butt knob closer to the reel, but maybe an acceptable compromise that won't screw-up the rod balance.

 

oe

[MickD]

That is an excellent idea.  You may want to try the Winn tape, really a great product, feels great, really good grip dry or wet.  It you want to know what it feels like go to a big sporting goods store and you likely will find some rods with Winn grips.  Will feel the same as the tape.

Your way is reversible if you don't like it, easy to do well, and not that costly.

[fishnkamp]

 Look at my Okuma split grip spinning rod. I use it to fish light weight jerkbaits like Rapalas.  The action of the rod is perfect but the long butt smacked my forearm so Tom  ( of www.Toms Custom Rods.com) shortened it up by cutting the butt off, reaming out the blank within it, then cutting the extra off the blank.  He was able to reuse the original butt cap after reaming out the blank material.  You can hardly tell Tom did anything to it.  Now I can set up a perfect cadence without touching my arm.  The first two pics show you what we did with that rod

You could either do that or consider cutting off the original butt cap and the entire cork section behind the reel seat.  Go to Mud Hole and order a set of Winn Grips in the natural color.  In the third pic you will see a change we made on my G Loomis rod. The plastic lock rings kept loosening up so the reel would get loose. Rather than wait till my brand new $300 Loomis rod was useless I had Tom strip off all of the cork and reel seat including the plastic hood and rings. We chose an American reel seat and Winn Grips.  As for your project check out the video Russ Lane did on youtube. , Just search Winn Grips on youtube it will show up.  Let us know what you end up doing.