I recently picked up a couple of more expensive casting rods for my finesse / bottom contact lures and normally add some U-40 cork seal to my rods, but I'm wondering if adding the U-40 to these would dampen my experience with them. What do you think?

The reason I love cork so much is because of its feel. And when it gets wet the rods don't slip in my hands. I will never coat my cork grips on a $20 rod or $600 rod. Not happening.

 

I avoid plastic grips like carbon fiber coated with epoxy. Too slippery for me. And when you coat cork you might as well not even have cork.

 

Keep cork natural is my opinion.

I use it on all my corked rods. 

2 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I use it on all my corked rods.

^This^

I really dislike the look over overly pitted cork, so I coat mine to prolong the time until that happens.

Use a small amount just enough for cork to absorb and prevent fillers from coming off. That won't change the feel or create slippery coat, i don't like that either.

Use it on all my cork rods, always have, always will.

Same! I use a single thin layer on all my cork handled rods

A sealer for cork is absolutely worth it in my option. Keeps the cork clean, cork filler won't fall out, and the color it gives the cork is better to me. I don't use U-40 anymore, though.

I’ve always been a fan of naked.

8 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

The reason I love cork so much is because of its feel. And when it gets wet the rods don't slip in my hands. I will never coat my cork grips on a $20 rod or $600 rod. Not happening.

 

I avoid plastic grips like carbon fiber coated with epoxy. Too slippery for me. And when you coat cork you might as well not even have cork.

 

Keep cork natural is my opinion.

This was going to be my question. I’ve never used cork sealer and I have rods that are 15 years old and still holding up fine. I definitely wouldn’t want to change the feel of cork with sealer. 

4 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

A sealer for cork is absolutely worth it in my option. Keeps the cork clean, cork filler won't fall out, and the color it gives the cork is better to me. I don't use U-40 anymore, though.

What do you use instead? Does it change the feel of the cork?

If you invest your hard earned money on any rod, protect it and get the longest life possible out of it.  Sealing the cork will lengthen the life.

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

This was going to be my question. I’ve never used cork sealer and I have rods that are 15 years old and still holding up fine. I definitely wouldn’t want to change the feel of cork with sealer. 

What do you use instead? Does it change the feel of the cork?

The cork has a slicker feel to the touch, but that doesn't mean that it's bad or is slippery. What i use is Minwax Polyurethane in warm gloss finish. And these are permanent, you will never need to recoat your cork after a few years like with the U40.

All I'll say is cork on expensive rods pits too, sometimes as bad or worse than cheap rods.

When I started buying high end rods I struggled with this decision as well.

 

I scoured the internet trying to find opinions.

 

I ended up buying U-40.

 

Who knows if it was a good decision or not.

 

It's a light coat though. I've seen some rods that look like they were dipped in lacquer and it's 1/4" thick. No way I'd do that.

Never ever used cork sealer and never will!

Tom

I bought u40 early on and coated my first few cork-handles rods with it. I really couldn't tell much difference over time from the next few I didn't coat, so I stopped. I'm mostly lipping fish though, so very little grime on my hands, and I wash hands twice after sunscreen. 

So...no, not anymore. 

Although, earlier I just made a short comment of (^This^) I should have given the reasons as to why I use U40.

I noticed one of my older fishing poles started to see small pieces of cork starting to come off. I started a search of how to repair and protect the cork. I came across many products and landed on U40 and now use it as a protectant of the cork on all my rods.

I do not feel any difference in the cork myself.

After reading the pros, cons, personal bias, etc., pick what suits your needs best.

Cheers.

P.s. Also, there is a fly in the ointment too. There are different grades of cork and not all manufacturers grade cork the same. Some of the more expensive rods "should" have a better quality of cork. 

Dirty pitted cork is makes my eyes vomit.  That's the reason for cork sealer.  It prevents cork from taking on that horrific appearance.  That hedious appearance is why some people "don't like cork".  What they mean is "I had or saw a cork rod with work cork and it made my eyes bleed".  Sealer solves this issue.  Use sealer.

Did not know cork sealing was even a thing. Close to 50% of my rods are old-school Cabela's branded rods from the 1990's. Never sealed the cork...heck, never even cleaned them up. 

 

Seem to be just fine after ~30 years of use. 

I never even knew sealing cork was a thing until I logged into this forum.  I love my rods, all of them, but I dont LOOOOVVVEEE my rods.  they are beloved tools in my life.  tools.

 

 

7 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Did not know cork sealing was even a thing. Close to 50% of my rods are old-school Cabela's branded rods from the 1990's. Never sealed the cork...heck, never even cleaned them up. 

 

Seem to be just fine after ~30 years of use. 

Easy to clean unsealed cork using Mr Clean Magic Eraser without losing any of the cork. I clean the cork when I think it’s needed.

Tom

 

 

U40 is a water based polymer. It goes on water thin and dries clear. I don’t feel it alters the look or feel significantly and if you don’t like it, it comes of easily. “Good” cork nowadays still has filler in it. Sealing is worth a try imo. It’s either that or maybe refill it at some point. Pick your poison. 

You haven't lived until you've dyed your cork grips pink with spawn goo 🤭

What you get on forums are opinions, often biased, often based on misinterpretation of the question, often axes being ground.  In time you can gain confidence in some people's opinions.  But not all the people.

 

In this case, it is my opinion that DVT has it about right.  If one doesn't like the feel of cork after using U-40, then a light sanding takes it off.  Give it a try and see for yourself.

 

Does cork not get slippery when wet?  I don't think it does, at least not much.  It certainly does with fish slime on it.  Sealed or not sealed.  I believe that U40 doesn't significantly affect the feel or friction or gription, and it might keep some of that inevitable filler from coming loose.  

 

My grips don't have filler in them since I use exotic burl cork, which has no voids and has no fillers.  They feel just fine whether left alone, sealed, or even with wrap epoxy or some kind of polyurethane on them.  In my opinion.  The major influencers of the grip staying in your hand are shape and size (ergonomics).  

 

Give U40 sealer a try.  Have your own opinion.  Then you can post it and sound like an expert.