Premium grade vs standard grade cork handles

[CrashVector]

Am I the only person here who actually prefers the lower grade cork?

 

The higher grades look, well, plain.  They're really light colored and smooth.  The lower grades seem to have more personality AND seem to have more texture, which means grippy when they get wet.

 

Plus, I kind of like the look of the more rustic cork.

 

If I could do it easily, I'd probably swap out all my premium grade cork handles for the lower grade stuff.

[garroyo130]

Maybe were talking about different lower grade but in my experience the cheaper cork handles harden and become crumbly

[bulldog1935]

this is 65-y-o high grade cork

 

 

um, no I don't believe you do see - that is 65 years' wear

here's equivalent AAA cork on a new rod. 

 

The difference between grades is how much plastic filler will be needed to fill holes that turn out when the grip is shaped.  Also, those deeper holes are going to crush and break out over time. 

[CrashVector]

37 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

Maybe were talking about different lower grade but in my experience the cheaper cork handles harden and become crumbly

 

I know what you mean about that.  To remedy it, I always spray on some of the real magic stuff.  It's basically just silicone.

30 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

this is 65-y-o high grade cork

 

See...that's not bad at all.  The high grade cork on modern rods looks like blonde colored foam its so smooth 

[Mobasser]

I prefer the look and feel of premium grade cork if I can get it.

[Cbump]

I prefer high grade. Always seal with u40 also. 

[CrashVector]

1 hour ago, Cbump said:

I prefer high grade. Always seal with u40 also. 

I haven't bought any bc a few reviews says it stiffens the cork and makes it less springy...what's your take?

That's the cork on a Fantasista premier..it's almost TOO smooth imo

[QED]

4 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

Maybe were talking about different lower grade but in my experience the cheaper cork handles harden and become crumbly

 

Weird.  This thing is older than dirt and still works fine.

[Cbump]

1 hour ago, CrashVector said:

I haven't bought any bc a few reviews says it stiffens the cork and makes it less springy...what's your take?

That's the cork on a Fantasista premier..it's almost TOO smooth imo

I guess I don’t know what springy cork is. I just know It keeps It clean. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

U40 cork sealer is a water based polymer. All it does is provide a thin film to repel dirt and moisture. It’s not slippery, doesn’t harm the cork or change its properties in any way. 

[CrashVector]

7 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

U40 cork sealer is a water based polymer. All it does is provide a thin film to repel dirt and moisture. It’s not slippery, doesn’t harm the cork or change its properties in any way. 

 

Excellent...might hafta order some!

[Jrob78]

Super high grade cork rings are very expensive, like $10-$12 per inch retail. Obviously rod companies get it cheaper but that's why most rods with cork will have some filler in the grips. It's also why full cork grips aren't the norm anymore, imo.

 

I'm a big fan of really nice cork grips but I don't mind burl grips either, especially on custom rods. U40 is a great product to help keep your grips nice.

[CrashVector]

2 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

Super high grade cork rings are very expensive, like $10-$12 per inch retail. Obviously rod companies get it cheaper but that's why most rods with cork will have some filler in the grips. It's also why full cork grips aren't the norm anymore, imo.

 

I'm a big fan of really nice cork grips but I don't mind burl grips either, especially on custom rods. U40 is a great product to help keep your grips nice.

 

I dunno...I can see the benefit of high grade, don't get me wrong.  Maybe I'm just used to the "cheap as hell" grade cork that came on my cheaper combos lol

[CrashVector]

This is the cork on my Pflueger Trion combos, and I really like it a lot...low grade or not.

[casts_by_fly]

give me the highest, finest cork I can get my hands on.  I've still got a bag of AAA rings downstairs I think.  If you like pits and marks in your grip then you just enjoy them.  For me, a pristine smooth piece of unblemished cork is a rare and beautiful thing.  Winston flyrods of the 90's and early 2000's had some great cork.  Cork is a wood product and I look at it like other wood products.  Some woods are supposed to be highly figured and variable in color (birdseye maple, black walnut gunstocks).  Some wood products aren't.  Cork should be dead smooth, no pits, no voids.

[Chris Catignani]

On 8/13/2022 at 9:36 AM, CrashVector said:

Am I the only person here who actually prefers the lower grade cork?

I agree with the personality aspect of the pits...but my experience with pitted cork is that the pits seem to grow with wear. (and can easily be repaired with cork dust and glue.)

 

@Delaware Valley Tackle @Cbump I've been a U40 user ever since it came out. I really liked the idea of sealing cork. But with U40 you need to redo the process (clean, reseal) if you use the rod often. That "sealer" never really penetrates past the first cell level; this is just due to the properties of cork.

 

One day I came across a product called Cork Renew by Red Moose. Its claim was to seal, waterproof and protect. It's actually a product for cork bottom shoes. I bought some and applied it. This is similar to U40 (white dries clear), but it is a bit more viscous. It goes on thicker. After my initial test (next day) I thought that it felt a little tacky. But to my surprise...this tackiness goes away after a couple weeks.

 

So...take it from someone who make a lot of cork handles, (burls, Tennessee handles, inlays..etc..etc) I am a fan of Red Moose Cork Renew. The only draw back , to me, is it takes a while to get the feel I would expect.

 

 

[garroyo130]

11 hours ago, CrashVector said:

This is the cork on my Pflueger Trion combos, and I really like it a lot...low grade or not.

 

I think the problem is we havent defined cheap as hell.

 

Your cheap as hell is more expensive than my cheap as hell.

 

When were talking bottom of the barrel cork im talking Shakespeare learn2fish combos you get on sale for $5 at walmart preferably from 2000 - 2005.

[Basswhippa]

16 hours ago, CrashVector said:

This is the cork on my Pflueger Trion combos, and I really like it a lot...low grade or not.

Garbage cork. Like most these days.  Looks like 15 to 20 places filled on that one side.

 

I had a $270 Dobyns Champion have a giant hunk of cork fall out.  I used wood glue to put some cork back in off a broken rod.

[CrashVector]

10 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

 

I think the problem is we havent defined cheap as hell.

 

Your cheap as hell is more expensive than my cheap as hell.

 

When were talking bottom of the barrel cork im talking Shakespeare learn2fish combos you get on sale for $5 at walmart preferably from 2000 - 2005.

Good point lol

[CrashVector]

6 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

Garbage cork. Like most these days.  Looks like 15 to 20 places filled on that one side.

 

I had a $270 Dobyns Champion have a giant hunk of cork fall out.  I used wood glue to put some cork back in off a broken rod.

 

Fair enough.  I just think it looks nostalgic and has that certain feel to it that reminds me of my old fishing poles from back in the day.

[txchaser]

I like the way premium cork looks, but the lower grade cork seems like a much better grip to me.

Just not junk grade with a bunch of filler. 

[T-Billy]

On 8/13/2022 at 10:48 AM, bulldog1935 said:

this is 65-y-o high grade cork

 

 

um, no I don't believe you do see - that is 65 years' wear

here's equivalent AAA cork on a new rod. 

 

The difference between grades is how much plastic filler will be needed to fill holes that turn out when the grip is shaped.  Also, those deeper holes are going to crush and break out over time. 

VS 20 some odd year old cheaper grade cork on a Quantum Tour Edition.

Gave it a heavy coat of U40 awhile back to try and keep it together.  6'6" M-F It's a handy little blank. My wife loves it for light trigs and small cranks. Nice to see it back in service. It was one of my favorites years ago.

[Chris Catignani]

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

VS 20 some odd year old cheaper grade cork on a Quantum Tour Edition.

Gave it a heavy coat of U40 awhile back to try and keep it together.  6'6" M-F It's a handy little blank. My wife loves it for light trigs and small cranks. Nice to see it back in service. It was one of my favorites years ago.

 @T-Billy The foregrip does not double as a hook keeper.

[T-Billy]

2 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

 @T-Billy The foregrip does not double as a hook keeper.

It probably could at this point. LOL. It's been a good rod. Seen a ton of use and never an issue.