i posted recently on split grip rods and what applications people prefered them for.  someone chimed in that existing grips could be split.

i couldnt find the link they provided and if anyone knows where instructions on how to do this are i would appreciate it.  i experimented some on a cheap rod and was generally satisfied with how it came out.  i simply cut it off as much as i could and then used solvent to clean the blank.  it dosent look perfect but better than i expected.  im considering trying it on a better rod but would be interested in some feed back first.  has anyone tried this and is there any reason that it is not a good idea.  i was worried that i was going to damage the blank but i think it worked out fine.  i would be a lot more nervous with a more expensive rod though and would appreciate anyone elses experience or advice on this.

matt

Check with Reel-Mech.

He posted on how to do it.

jomatty,

I don't have any article that I wrote on the subject.

Here is the article that the thread probably referred to.

Split Your Grip by George Roth

Good Luck..

Tight Lines !!!

jomatty,

I don't have any article that I wrote on the subject.

Here is the article that the thread probably referred to.

Split Your Grip by George Roth

Good Luck..

Tight Lines !!!

I had been meaning to email you about doing exactly that to a couple of rods.  Now I guess I don't have to.  

You are a fountain of information Dave!  

Thanks Reelmech, excellent article  

While George is an excellent rod builder.

I would warn that doing this to a high end high modules rod blank that is more brittle, you need to take extreme caution when cutting the cork rings or even the cleanup of the split area. Do not nick the blank, it will act just like a nick in glass, any stress applied will cause the blank to fail (break). Be really careful in all the steps.

Good Luck...

Tight Lines!!!

thanks that was exactly the information i was looking for.  not sure if i compromised the blank on the one ive done or not.  i dont have a heat gun and just cut and scraped away, so i very well may have ruined this rod, which is no big deal as it is very cheap and was meant as an experiment.  

i dont think im quite ready to start splitting the grips on more expensive rods yet as i am worried i will ruin them.

on the one ive done i dont see any knicks but when i was scraping the excess cork off a small strip of the blank peeled off.  i imagine this is going to ruin the rod, although it feels strong as i bang it on the ground for some tests.  is what i did different then knicking the blank or is this rod shot?

thx

matt

jomatty,

i dont have a heat gun and just cut and scraped away, so i very well may have ruined this rod, which is no big deal as it is very cheap and was meant as an experiment.

You don't need an expensive heat gun I have moded grips with a hair dryer, just takes a little longer.

on the one ive done i dont see any knicks but when i was scraping the excess cork off a small strip of the blank peeled off.

If you can see well (I have to use an optivisor) look at the cleared section, you are looking for missing fibers where you might have removed some slivers of blank fibers. You should look for them and check them with your finger nail, If you can feel the nick/scrape and actually put your finger nail in the it, there could be a problem. If you don't have any of this you did GOOD!

Make sure you re-coat the cleaned section and this will hopefully protect the area that the sliver came from, and for any failure, it will depend on how heavy of fishing you plan on doing with the rod. IMPO if the split section is about 4"-5" wide IMPO I think that section would be safe from a flex failure, anything wider you could feel some flex.

Wow.  That does look cool.  I may have to try that to one of my rods.  

i think i did ok with the blank.  ive been out a few times with the rod and i like it much more now than i did before.  actually it was not a rod i was using at all and now is in the game day rotation.  im still very uncomforatable about doing it to a more expensive rod but who knows.