Help with Rod butt

[islandbass]

I have a 9'6" light action rod that my wife's uncle had made and given to me as a gift. It is a great rod but unfortunately, there is a problem with the foam grip at the butt end of the rod. Unfortunately, half of the foam grip closest to the reel seat has become loose.  When gripped, you can actually turn the grip around the blank.

 

Sending it back to the person who made it is not an option, mainly because I have a gut feeling it should a relatively easy fix (hope I'm not wrong) and this will be a great opportunity to get to do at least one aspect of rod building.

 

I would like to pick your brains and seek you advice as to the best way to proceed in re-adhering the grip back to the blank, whether I should slip some epoxy between the grip and blacnk (would need to know the appropriate kind to use), or have to rip off the foam grip and replace it.

 

The foam grip is loose enough you could separate the grip from the blank with something like a screw driver or Popsicle stick.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[S Hovanec]

Sounds like the epoxy was squeegeed off of the blank when the grip was installed.  I believe it is an easy fix.  Some epoxy needs injected between the grip and blank.  Any hardware store epoxy should work.  Mix it up, load it into a syringe and shoot it in where you need it.

[islandbass]

Thanks, I really appreciate your advice. I think I'll use dev cont 2T since I already have some. 

[MickD]

Photo doesn't show the butt end detail.  If the grip can be slid off the back, then you can get much more epoxy on the interface than injecting will provide.  Cover the interface with epoxy, slide the grip back on, rotate a couple revs to make sure you have it all over the interface, and clean up with alcohol (denatured).

[islandbass]

@MickD: I would say that the upper 1/2 to 1/3 is loose (closer to the reel seat) and the lower part is anchored down so I don’t think I could slide the grip off without damaging it. Or else what you suggested might be a viable option.  I will admit that I have been tempted to consider that, even though I don’t yet have any experience. 

[MickD]

I would not recommend trying to get the grip to move if the bottom feels secure, just inject as previously suggested.  You probably will fix it fine with injection, and that will not risk creating the bigger problem of tearing the grip.

 

If that doesn't work, come on back.

 

 

[islandbass]

Thanks! I have a few "honey do" projects and hope to get this done before next week. The rod fishes great and its light action beautifully signals a trout's strike when fishing with power bait or eggs. 

[S Hovanec]

Chances are he only applied the epoxy in the area where the grip sits.  When this is done, by the time the grip is in final position, the adhesive has been squeegeed off the blank.  The epoxy should be applied up the blank about 2x the grip length.  That way you can get epoxy all the way through the grip before the squeegee action starts.

 

I would let him know the grip is loose as he may not know this is happening.  

[islandbass]

I will. Thanks. My wife’s uncle also had an exact one made for my son and his came out just fine. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You may need to stick a hollow needle into the void to allow air to escape or the pressure can keep the epoxy from getting in or inject in multiple spots. When I do loose reel seats I drill two holes for the same reason. 

[islandbass]

Thanks, DVT. That wasn’t even close to being on my radar. 

 

What I was planning to do was hopefully insert small dowels or if I have to, “half” dowels into hopefully 4 locations (ideally 4, worst case 2). These should create the space I need to inject the epoxy into the empty spaces between the dowels.  

 

That was my plan and if it doesn’t work, 

 

And now, with that extra information you’ve given me, I will start pressing of the grip into the blank to join the two from the butt end and work toward the reel seat. That should help to push out any air. I would have just willie Nillied this step, lol. 

 

Hopefully I can buy a hollow needle locally  since it is better to have and not need than to need and not have. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Black Hawk Basser]

Sounds like perhaps he perhaps needed to make an arbor near that loose area with masking tape to make a tighter fit on the blank.

[S Hovanec]

On 8/10/2018 at 4:04 AM, islandbass said:

 

 

Hopefully I can buy a hollow needle locally  since it is better to have and not need than to need and not have. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tractor supply in the pet care section.  Many varieties of syringe needles.  You should be able to find one that will fit the need to vent air.

[.ghoti.]

Do you have a spray can of something that has a small plastic tube you jam in the nozzle to direct the spray? Use that. Or cut it in half and use two pieces.

[islandbass]

4 hours ago, .ghoti. said:

Do you have a spray can of something that has a small plastic tube you jam in the nozzle to direct the spray? Use that. Or cut it in half and use two pieces.

I should, somewhere in the garage. Thanks. 

[MickD]

The last time I wanted a needle I went to a local big box pharmacy and bought one for a buck or so.  Amazingly cheap.  Get the biggest needle you can.  Most likely after injecting epoxy, might be easiest to just dispose of it.  Pharm can probably do that too.

 

After you inject, you may have tracked some epoxy onto the grip; use alcohol generously to clean up.  Keep an eye on the area until the alcohol has completely evaporated to be sure you got all the epoxy.

If in the end you don't like the appearance or feel of the grip you can cover it with the Winn Grips wraps.  Very nice.

 

[Alex from GA]

If your repair fails just cut the rest of the EVA off and install another piece.  I think you'll succeed though.