Rod handle repairs.

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Having replenished my dry and wet fly boxes, I decided to tackle the handle on my Greys 7`6" 3wt rod handle. The filler used by Greys is pretty bad. as you can see in pics 2 & 3, so I took rest of the filler out with a small craft knife.





repair:-
I rubbed a wine bottle cork across some medium grade sandpaper, then mixed up the rubbings with a waterproof glue, then applied to the holes,filling to just below the surface, using a hair drier to dry quicker.



Next I rubbed the cork across a fine grit sandpaper for the finishing fill, mixed this time with clear varnish and over-filling the gaps


With a very fine grit sandpaper, rub the filled handle `til smooth and flush with the surface of the rest of the handle and the result---




The varnish tends to spread slightly from the filled area, making the bedded filler more secure. So there you have it an easy cheap and better(imo) way to fill a cork handle. This method can be used in all cork handles as the finish is waterproof too.


Peter

[MRG2000]

Top job Peter , that`ll save a few quid against replacing the handle...

[chazyboi]

fantastic dubbed though im amazed at the original greys handle thought it wud be better quality cork ,i have a spring creek i brought for practicing up the cut the handle is better not deriding the grays i like them ,this made me look at my airflow handle lol is this somthing you find alot on rods dubbed or just greys

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Hi Chaz, almost all modern rods have filler in them to one degree or another, but it seems lately a lot of manufacturers are using grade B cork (probably cost cutting, although the price of some of the rods borders on daylight robbery). This rod is the 2010 Streamtec model, just over a year old, but only used a couple of times, but as you see the cork is quite pitted. I have a Hardy Sovereign 9` 5/6 (1970) slightly pitted, but not too bad and a Hardy 9` 6/7 hollow glass, roughly the same age, but the handle is immaculate. Going by the complaints on another fly fishing forum, this is more widespread than you`d think, rod prices rise, but the quality sinks lol or should that be stinks.



Peter

[chazyboi]

i was amazed it was a greys as i like thier blanks,,funnily enuf that spring creek rod i brought is a corker 30 quid now was 50 wen i got it 3 years ago as long as you dont go to the heavier loading on it and well made suprised me i brought the 6 7 weight looked at my airflow that looks good or the filler is better bit of a rip off couldnt it rot from those cracks or swell and split i would have the hardy glass fly rod

[Dubbed Squirrel]

I think all Greys rods are made in Korea now, cheap labour, low overheads = maximum profit. My favourite is the Sovereign, cast a fly onto a 5p (as long as you super glue it to the 5p first ), cracking river rod when the water is running a bit high. Have to agree though, the Greys blanks are excellent, the Streamflec is very thin, shame about the cork though. Spring Creek? I bought a Silver Creek Powerflyte 7/8 5 piece rod for piking, hooked one pike with it, then realised we`d forgot to bring a landing net with us so the in evitable happened and the fish threw the hook.


Peter

[chazyboi]

they still have those spring creek rods on ebay good starter rod for anyone not sure, very pretty blank i use mine for practise down the cut and believe it or not rudd with a hopper attached or carp with a biscuit never tried it on trout yet as havnt been for a while and i have a daiwa c96 trout one of my faves oldie but goldy also a very thin ron thompson mpx still water that i rate in 6 7 brought for a mate but he couldnt get the hang of it so i kept it also an airflow air tech my kids brought me might sell em all one day and get a top of the range