Super User MickD Posted February 26, 2017 Super User Posted February 26, 2017 I just have to brag about this one, the rod pictured, built on a RodGeeks blank, was auctioned last night at the local educational advancement foundation fund raiser, and it brought $500 from a very generous man who had won the auction on one of my rods from an earlier year. Being close to Lansing, MI, the Michigan State theme rods are popular. 12 Quote
Super User Big Bait Fishing Posted February 26, 2017 Super User Posted February 26, 2017 nice job with the green burl !!! i use to be all about EVA , had a rod built with blue burl which i put a few coats of Tru-Oil , needless to say i will have all my rods now incorperating burl cork . donating a rod for charity is a great thing , great rod build 1 Quote
Super User .ghoti. Posted February 26, 2017 Super User Posted February 26, 2017 Very, very nice, Mick. That's epoxy on the cork, eh? Ive epoxied a few cork rings after staining them, and couldn't quite decide if I liked it or not. Seeing yours, I have to say I like it. How does it hold up over time? Hat's off to you for the charity build, and congrats for the top dollar bid. 2 Quote
Super User MickD Posted February 27, 2017 Author Super User Posted February 27, 2017 2 hours ago, .ghoti. said: Very, very nice, Mick. That's epoxy on the cork, eh? Ive epoxied a few cork rings after staining them, and couldn't quite decide if I liked it or not. Seeing yours, I have to say I like it. How does it hold up over time? Hat's off to you for the charity build, and congrats for the top dollar bid. I have used wrap epoxy over regular cork and burl before and have rods that are up to about 8 years old. It has held up well except for some yellowing, makes it look sort like varnish. l think epoxies may be better now, so am hoping that the yellowing will be less. This is flex coat lite. The yellowing on the older rods is apparent, but since the cork is sort of tan anyway, it does not really look bad. I have had no structural or scratching issues at all. Some may question the grip, but I find the smooth surface very pleasing to the touch, and the grip is more determined by shape than by anything else. Structurally this will no doubt be of higher structural integrity than wrap epoxy over rigid polyurethane reel seat shims (used as ramps off spin seats) which I have used tons of and had only one cave in which was diagnosed as insufficient epoxy fill between the shim bore and the blank. As you know, burl cork is harder than regular cork, so will be harder to dent. 1 Quote
XpressJeff Posted March 19, 2017 Posted March 19, 2017 That's a pretty girl! Thanks for sharing the images and your generosity. 1 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted March 25, 2017 Super User Posted March 25, 2017 Beautiful work! I've never seen cork finished like that, it looks great! I am going to try this myself. Quote
Super User MickD Posted March 25, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 25, 2017 The green burl cork really needs something on it to change it from the dull, drab, not very pretty appearance that it has after turning. It is not nearly as attractive as plain burl. Also, the best burl cork has different size "chunks" in it giving it an interesting texture as opposed to some burls which seem to be made of tiny uniform chunks. I suggest trying burls from different sources to find the "best" burl as defined by this texture. But the "best" burl in its as-turned condition is pretty unattractive. I used Flex Coat wrap epoxy on this and it looks great. I'm confident that it will hold up well based on past experience. What the U40 cork sealer or Tru Oil look like on the colored burl, I don't know yet, but they should enhance its appearance some, with Tru Oil shifting it significantly darker. Thanks for your comments. Quote
Super User Big Bait Fishing Posted March 26, 2017 Super User Posted March 26, 2017 here is a blue burl cork ring (natural) next to a rear grip with light coats of Tru-Oil , yeah , i really like it !!! 1 Quote
Super User Angry John Posted March 26, 2017 Super User Posted March 26, 2017 U40 sure brought out some character in some of my rod handles. The dobyns DX handles look the best, of those i have done. St croix does not change very much and i was hoping they would. Still great rods though. Quote
Super User MickD Posted March 26, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 26, 2017 7 hours ago, Angry John said: U40 sure brought out some character in some of my rod handles. The dobyns DX handles look the best, of those i have done. St croix does not change very much and i was hoping they would. Still great rods though. I think this indicates the better quality of cork on the St Croix. The Dobyns rods I've seen have pretty porous cork with a lot of filled pits, and this kind of cork will accept finishes better, with more color change, than high quality cork. The burl cork, which is very different in structure, really accepts finishes well, which is indicated by its change in color when Tru-Oil is applied. The disadvantage of burl is that it's a lot denser, therefore heavier, than regular cork, so if one uses a lot of cork, it can make a significant difference in the rod's weight. 1 Quote
Super User Big Bait Fishing Posted March 26, 2017 Super User Posted March 26, 2017 2 hours ago, MickD said: I think this indicates the better quality of cork on the St Croix. The Dobyns rods I've seen have pretty porous cork with a lot of filled pits, and this kind of cork will accept finishes better, with more color change, than high quality cork. The burl cork, which is very different in structure, really accepts finishes well, which is indicated by its change in color when Tru-Oil is applied. The disadvantage of burl is that it's a lot denser, therefore heavier, than regular cork, so if one uses a lot of cork, it can make a significant difference in the rod's weight. as far as rod weight being added by the heavier burl cork , i use longer blanks (7'6'' & up) so utilizing the heavier handle materials are really working out to the good helping with rod balance/tip heaviness . 1 Quote
wdp Posted March 26, 2017 Posted March 26, 2017 That is one beautiful rod. Almost too pretty to fish with it. You're doing a great thing too by helping others. 1 Quote
Super User MickD Posted March 27, 2017 Author Super User Posted March 27, 2017 8 hours ago, wdp said: That is one beautiful rod. Almost too pretty to fish with it. You're doing a great thing too by helping others. Too pretty to fish with? I hope not. And the guy who got it is a fisherman, who will fish it. There is nothing in this build that is in jeopardy of being degraded or screwed up by fishing with it. Rods are supposed to be fished, and given reasonable care, they should be good for your children and grandchildren. The only thing that I can think of that fishing could compromise is the clarity of the wrap epoxy. It inevitably will get to looking a little amber. Small price to pay. Thank you for your compliments. 1 Quote
wdp Posted March 27, 2017 Posted March 27, 2017 4 hours ago, MickD said: Too pretty to fish with? I hope not. And the guy who got it is a fisherman, who will fish it. There is nothing in this build that is in jeopardy of being degraded or screwed up by fishing with it. Rods are supposed to be fished, and given reasonable care, they should be good for your children and grandchildren. The only thing that I can think of that fishing could compromise is the clarity of the wrap epoxy. It inevitably will get to looking a little amber. Small price to pay. Thank you for your compliments. Well, I did say almost. ? Beautiful work. 1 Quote
frosty Posted April 23, 2017 Posted April 23, 2017 That is beautiful work! I'm leaving the rod building forum now, forever! I can't take up any new hobbies! 1 Quote
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