Rod handle repair

[edwardo]

I have a couple of rods with EVA handle grips where some critter decided to eat small chunks out of it.  I'm thinking of filling the holes with something and then using grip wrap or shrink wrap to cover the whole grip.  What do I use to fill the EVA?  I've though of wood filler but don't know if it will stick to the EVA foam.  

On another rod the EVA is weathered/dry rotted and am wondering if I need to coat the grip with some sort of sealer/varnish before wrapping so the wrap will stick.

Thanks

[MickD]

Not sure what to fill with, maybe others will chime in with some experience.  But you need not put anything on the grip after that in order to use grip wrap. I strongly recommend Winn's wrap.  Go to their web site to find resources on how to wrap it.  You most likely will like the rods better than when they were new.

 

Here are some ideas:

 

http://rodbuilding.org/read.php?2,462242,462256#msg-462256

 

 

[.ghoti.]

You could get Eva craft foam to fill in the gaps. I would try carving out the holes where the missing chunks are to make it easier to fit new pieces. Use rubber cement to glue in the new pieces. That is the only thing I know of that will securely bind Eva. Sand to even it all out, then apply whatever wrapping you choose. I would most likely try some of the available shrink wrap grip material over Winn stuff.

 

I have never tried this, so I can't give you exact step by step instructions.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

May want to consider the Winn overwrap product.

I have not used it however it does receive fairly high reviews from some happy customers.

http://www.winngripsfishing.com/

A-Jay

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

EVA is inexpensive. The easiest and best result will be to strip the whole grip off and slide a new one on from the back end. 

[RoLo]

 

I'm afraid that anglers are the critters who give EVA grips that chewed-up look   

I agree that full replacement is the best option, but speaking out of personal preference,

I'd go with Hypalon over EVA for several advantages. That said, EVA is a tad lighter.

 

Roger

[MickD]

21 hours ago, .ghoti. said:

You could get Eva craft foam to fill in the gaps. I would try carving out the holes where the missing chunks are to make it easier to fit new pieces. Use rubber cement to glue in the new pieces. That is the only thing I know of that will securely bind Eva. Sand to even it all out, then apply whatever wrapping you choose. I would most likely try some of the available shrink wrap grip material over Winn stuff.

 

I have never tried this, so I can't give you exact step by step instructions.

 

I believe you mean contact cement?  Contact cement does work great bonding EVA.  I think filling the gaps with EVA craft foam will work better than trying to fill with a mix of EVA dust and adhesive.

 

.ghoti, I tried your method of applying wrap epoxy rotating the rod by hand then moving it to my dryer, and it works better than what I was doing.  thanks.

[spoonplugger1]

You could also repair the grip by removing the damaged part and replacing it with new just like we do with cork couldn't you? D size thread spun on you rod wrapper cuts EVA like butter. You'd have to use epoxy as your glue, contact cement would bind immediately upon the slightest contact of the pieces whether they were where you wanted them or not. I like the idea of replacing the grip from the back side a lot also, very easy to do, especially on the newer small diameter blanks.