I would like some input on how anglers protect their cork handles.

U-40 cork sealer. And welcome to Bass Resource @weazy

I don’t at all. It annoys me when people leave the plastic on it!

1 minute ago, J._Bricker said:

U-40 cork sealer. And welcome to Bass Resource @weazy

^ What he said

I’d suggest a good rinse and wipe down after use. Nothing more. I tried sealing cork handles a few times; hated the feel every time and ended up sanding it off.

I don't do anything preventative to my cork.  If it needs cleaned up a magic eraser does a good job for me.  

magic eraser will clean it pretty well if it really needs it. i dont protect or clean mine much. all that build up from fish slime sweat etc is where the good mojo comes from!

7 minutes ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

I don't do anything preventative to my cork.  If it needs cleaned up a magic eraser does a good job for me.  

Same, magic eraser sometime over the winter. If you do it every year it only takes a couple minutes.

1 hour ago, weazy said:

I would like some input on how anglers protect their cork handles.

Nope, I just use it, and sand them every couple of years if needed with very fine sand paper. If they get a gouge, I mix some cork with wood glue fill it and sand. 

1 hour ago, J._Bricker said:

U-40 cork sealer. And welcome to Bass Resource @weazy

Yup on all my rods .. 

another vote for u-40 cork sealer and magic eraser if dirty

3 minutes ago, TcRoc said:

Yup on all my rods .. 

U-40 on all my rods too

U-40

Another vote for U-40 (not to be confused with UB40). Your cork will feel a little coarse the first few times you use it, but eventually it "smooths" out. 

 

If it's a brand new rod, when you take the plastic off the handles, a lot of times there's cork dust on them still. So take a can of air and blow it down well before sealing. If it's an old rod, like others have mentioned, get some Mr. Clean dry eraser, clean the handles, wipe it down/blow it off, then seal. 

U-40 will seal cork but sealed cork is slippery when wet.

I never seal high quality cork rod handles. To clean cork is easy with warm soap and water and wipe dry. Any stains can be removed with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads..

Tom

I consider the dirt and wear-and-tear battle scars. I wipe ‘em off with a damp rag and fish. 

I use Minwax wood clear wood sealer just because I had it on hand.  Most any clear wood sealer would work.  2 thin coats. I like the look and feel of it.  Before sealing all my rods, I tested on 1 rod.  After using it for a while I liked it and did the rest.

U40 for me. Doesn't just keep em clean but keeps the cork filler in as well. 

I use them carefully.  To me, sealing cork takes away the advantage of using cork in the first place.  If you're going to seal cork, you're probably better off going with a winn grip, in my opinion.  So just keep the cork as is, until it needs replacing.  Then I usually just get a new rod, because by the time the cork actually needs replacing, the technology has leaped so far that I'm ready for a new rod anyway.  

U40 sealed cork is not slippery when wet.

16 hours ago, weazy said:

I would like some input on how anglers protect their cork handles.

Multiple coats of fish slime.

4 hours ago, thunderblack said:

U40 for me. Doesn't just keep em clean but keep the cork filler in as well. 

This is why I seal mine. I hate the way cork looks when it eventually get all those open wounds.

7 hours ago, MickD said:

U40 sealed cork is not slippery when wet.

Yeah, I've never had that issue either. 

7 hours ago, MickD said:

U40 sealed cork is not slippery when wet.

 

9 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Yeah, I've never had that issue either. 

I've never noticed any slipperiness with the U-40.

18 hours ago, Cigarguy said:

I use Minwax wood clear wood sealer just because I had it on hand.  Most any clear wood sealer would work.  2 thin coats. I like the look and feel of it.  Before sealing all my rods, I tested on 1 rod.  After using it for a while I liked it and did the rest.

May I ask you to describe the "feel" with the miniwax applied, both dry and wet? Saw this on YouTube awhile back and kind of intriqued me a bit. Thanks in advance.