Composite Grips and Butts - Not just for jigging...

[clt_capt]

So I picked up a few blanks that I wanted to use for some light inshore trolling - and didn't want to do the normal Slick butts or EVA, so I decided to give Foam Core Composite a try for the butts... Here is what the finished butts look like - In this case Heavy Graphite Woven sleeving over urethane foam...

These rods came out really light and I believe that Dink rods for offshore would be a great application too...

I'll add the steps to build your own composite grips - and apologize for the pic quality up front... First some shots of finished rods...

[NoExcuses]

That heavy carbon is pretty much indestructible besides looking cool.

Using shrink tube or straight to the wrapper ?

[clt_capt]

Supplies needed;
Urethane Foam cores
1/4" Mandrel
Sleeving material - www.sollerpaddles.com or Riley rods
Epoxy - I'm comfortable with West Systems - that's what I use.
Latex or nitrile gloves - You will need gloves.

I'm sure there are other ways to do this, but I prefer to shape the grips and apply the sleeving using the mandrel, and once complete install them on the blank just like an eva grip.

You can pour your own foam cores using 2 part Urethane foam, or order the foam blanks from Riley Rods - in this case I ordered them.

It helps to have a lathe to shape the foam, but if you have a power wrapper, it will do nicely.

I start with fairly coarse sandpaper (80 grit) and roughly shape the foam core...

Pictures of the shaped cores...

[Finesse]

Very Nice !!!
I want to try this grip out ... much nicer than foam down there.


NoExcuses....can that be retro fitted on an existing grip?? over eva ?

[canyongear]

Hmm..Flying gaff handle im thinkin'..

1 1/4 O.D - 1.070 I.D. x 6' 6"

[clt_capt]

There are 2 basic methods of applying the composite material over the core...

With each method, I slide the composite sleeve to cover the length of the core first and apply epoxy liberally - working from the "big" end to the small end...

1) Heat shrink tubing over the grip
Pros: Uses less epoxy as the extra gets squeezed out...
Generally cleaner
Very little possibility of air bubbles between the core
and composite.

Cons: The heat shrink tubing makes it difficult to align the
weave pattern
Too much heat can cause the epoxy to boil (Ugly)

2) "Hand wringing" the composite material to the core...
Pros: Pretty quick
Easy to see that your pattern is aligned

Cons: Pretty messy
Can leave air bubbles between the core and sleeve.


The next pictures show the hand method - I'll have to post the heat shrink method later...

More to come as I finish up this next set of grips...

[clt_capt]

That heavy carbon is pretty much indestructible besides looking cool.

Using shrink tube or straight to the wrapper ?

Those were made with heat shrink... This stuff is just stuff I've been playing with - pretty easy to do and looks great - Please feel free to add hints and tips...

[NoExcuses]

cable ties.

[clt_capt]

Hmm..Flying gaff handle im thinkin'..

1 1/4 O.D - 1.070 I.D. x 6' 6"

I have a couple of sources of Graphite, Graphite/Kevlar or Glass tubes along those lines. PM me if interested