U40

[Jonny15678]

Does sanding remove U40 Cork sealer? If so what is a good grit to use?

[MickD]

I believe sanding will remove most of the sealer since cork doesn't allow a fluid to penetrate much.  I would start with 150 and go finer to get a smoother finish if I want it smoother.  

 

Why?  

[Deleted account]

53 minutes ago, MickD said:

Why?  

Because...

 

[MickD]

Don't get it.

[Chris Catignani]

9 hours ago, Jonny15678 said:

Does sanding remove U40 Cork sealer? If so what is a good grit to use?

Try using hot soap and water with a green scothbright...it will remove it.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

Because...

 

 

47 minutes ago, MickD said:

Don't get it.

 

Because having U40 on top of cork feels like plastic in your hands.  Maybe not quite plastic, but cork is such a good grip material why would you coat it and cover it up?

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

 

Because having U40 on top of cork feels like plastic in your hands.  Maybe not quite plastic, but cork is such a good grip material why would you coat it and cover it up?

To keep it from rotting away.

 

Reason my 50 year old Daiwa 1312 rod handle is still in good shape? Sealed it with Thompsons just after I bought it...reseal it every 4-5 years...though now I use U-40

 

A cheaper rod that I didn't seal, though I cleaned and rinsed it regularly, DID rot away...chunks of cork falling off, badly stained, etc.

 

I'll take the slight 'plastic' feel (though I don't really notice it) to keep my rods in good shape.

[MickD]

I don't agree that U40 makes a significant feel difference.  Also no complaints from others who don't even know their cork is sealed.  But. . . different strokes.  

[casts_by_fly]

 

 

 

23 minutes ago, MickD said:

I don't agree that U40 makes a significant feel difference.  Also no complaints from others who don't even know their cork is sealed.  But. . . different strokes.  

 

 

Different strokes indeed.  When i was building rods I did a few on request but I always noticed a color and feel difference between treated and not treated.  

 

 

48 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

To keep it from rotting away.

 

Reason my 50 year old Daiwa 1312 rod handle is still in good shape? Sealed it with Thompsons just after I bought it...reseal it every 4-5 years...though now I use U-40

 

A cheaper rod that I didn't seal, though I cleaned and rinsed it regularly, DID rot away...chunks of cork falling off, badly stained, etc.

 

I'll take the slight 'plastic' feel (though I don't really notice it) to keep my rods in good shape.

 

I don't have any 50's of my own (my oldest rods that I've built are ~20) but I have some of my dad's (both built and factory) that are over 50 with no issues and no U40 or other sealants in sight.  Using high grade cork rings (I used a lot of Flor grade before the price went crazy) and sorting meant that most of my grips needed no filler and had no pits.  And the places where cork gets damaged/degraded is always the pits or edges.  I'm not sure you can even get Flor grade anymore.  Mudhole lists AAAA as their top grade and its $6 a 1/2" ring.  I don't mind stains in the cork, but they wash away most of the time if you mind.

[MickD]

Not all "flor" is flor.  But it's all expensive.  Exotic burl cork is very durable, some is very handsome, and it's a lot cheaper.  Only down side is that it weighs significantly more than natural cork. 

 

I think some of the carbon fiber grips are very good looking, very light, durable, feel good, and make a lot of sense.  

[casts_by_fly]

53 minutes ago, MickD said:

Not all "flor" is flor.  But it's all expensive.  Exotic burl cork is very durable, some is very handsome, and it's a lot cheaper.  Only down side is that it weighs significantly more than natural cork. 

 

I think some of the carbon fiber grips are very good looking, very light, durable, feel good, and make a lot of sense.  

 

Where can you get true Flor grade rings anymore?  I'm not plugged in to the suppliers anymore so I don't know.  I've used plenty of burl cork and colored burl.  Its great for the ends of grips and accent pieces, or if you're putting cork under a reel foot.  I wouldn't do a full grip of it though on anything more than a couple rings.

 

For spinning and casting rods I'm pretty open to all materials and mixed materials.  Some of the grips that Scott has pictured here (SHovanec) are awesome grips.  I'm not sure I love carbon fiber since I've not fished one myself and they look slippery when wet but that's conjecture on my part.

 

For fly rods and centerpins, I'm pretty set in my ways of high grade cork, possibly with some various accent pieces.

[MickD]

"Flor" is not a precise specification.  Companies have been advertising flor for years, and it varies a lot in quality.  So does burl.  Some of it looks like particle board while others has a very distinctive,  interesting look due to the sizing of the aggragate pieces of cork.

 

Cork 4Us advertises flor, and they are a very reputable company.  I'm not sure of their current price-you'll have to ask them.  Their picture of what they are offering looks very good.  

 

Carbon fiber does not get slippery when wet.  Cork gets slippery with fish slime and I expect carbon fiber will too.  I've never gotten a lot of fish slime on mine.  There are even "soft touch" carbon fiber grips that a friend tells me are very fine rod grips.  (NFC) 

[Lyman X]

Try lightly sanding corksealed grips with 600 grit. Cork Seal mostly make grips a bit easier to clean when they do get smeared up. a very light sanding should get rid of that feel you don't like. That said, I always use it.

[Chris Catignani]

4 hours ago, Lyman X said:

... That said, I always use it.

I use it too...

[Alpster]

On 12/8/2022 at 10:43 AM, MickD said:

Not all "flor" is flor.  But it's all expensive.  Exotic burl cork is very durable, some is very handsome, and it's a lot cheaper.  Only down side is that it weighs significantly more than natural cork. 

 

I think some of the carbon fiber grips are very good looking, very light, durable, feel good, and make a lot of sense.  

I haven't seen real flor grade cork in years. I have bought so called flor cork and always been disappointed. If you want to see what it looks like see a high end 'Sage' or 'Thomas & Thomas' fly rod. I use U40 on everything.

[ike8120]

I use the U40 on all my cork grips, key is to apply a vert thin coat.

[MickD]

Every fly grip I've seen has evidence of filler having been used.  I have not seen a recent Sage or Thomas and Thomas grip.  It would be interesting. 

[thunderblack]

Try using a magic eraser