Cork filler (need to buy or make)

I got a pretty good size divot where my index finger touches the cork on my
fly-rod. There are a lot of divots but this one is annoying. Is there a
cork filler on the market, or can you make it yourself? Been to the hardware
store, wood filler (not sure if that will do), but no cork filler.
-tom

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...
I got a pretty good size divot where my index finger touches the cork on my
fly-rod. There are a lot of divots but this one is annoying. Is there a
cork filler on the market, or can you make it yourself? Been to the
hardware store, wood filler (not sure if that will do), but no cork filler.
-tom

Never had to do it myself, but it seems to me that the best filler for cork
would be......cork. You can buy it in various forms from hardware, craft,
and other stores, including, of course, fly shops. But I'd guess your best
bet is to go out and buy a bottle of red wine (seems to me I recently
learned you've got an interest in this anyway) and enjoy a glass or two
while shaping the cork to your needs. There is a wide variety of waterproof
glues that will do a good job of holding the patch together.

And no, wood fillers won't do at all.

Wolfgang

there are some who might consider such a divot a feature. use some
sandpaper, working to a finer grade, smoothing it out.

eric
fresno, ca.


From: "Tom Nakashima"
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 13:55:15 -0800
Subject: Cork filler (need to buy or make)

I got a pretty good size divot where my index finger touches the cork on my
fly-rod. There are a lot of divots but this one is annoying. Is there a
cork filler on the market, or can you make it yourself? Been to the hardware
store, wood filler (not sure if that will do), but no cork filler.
-tom

Grind a wine bottle cork in your food processor, mix with two-part
epoxy, apply to handle, let cure, buff down with a fine-grit paper or
nail file. Done! I prefer white wine corks because 1) I don't have to
cut the stained portion off the cork, and 2) red wine does bad things
to me.

On Tue, 6 Dec 2005 13:55:15 -0800, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:

I got a pretty good size divot where my index finger touches the cork on my
fly-rod. There are a lot of divots but this one is annoying. Is there a
cork filler on the market, or can you make it yourself? Been to the hardware
store, wood filler (not sure if that will do), but no cork filler.
-tom


To make filler, you need cork _dust_ and adhesive (there is a specialty
adhesive, but Duco, Elmer's or similar will work). AFAIK, the only way
to get cork dust is to make/create it with cork and sandpaper. I'd
recommend a belt sander first, then a disc, and a vibrating type as the
least-favorable mechanical method.

HTH,
R

Take some cork some clear glue a cheese grater.....Grate the cork mix
with clue patch sand to your taste

On 6 Dec 2005 15:07:40 -0800, "scott" wrote:

Grind a wine bottle cork in your food processor, mix with two-part
epoxy, apply to handle, let cure, buff down with a fine-grit paper or
nail file. Done! I prefer white wine corks because 1) I don't have to
cut the stained portion off the cork, and 2) red wine does bad things
to me.

While I have no doubt that will fill the divot, that's not the preferred
way. to do a true repair, you need dust, not chopped cork. I'd offer
there's no reason to add the (chopped or dust) cork if one is going to
use something that dries like Devcon or similar epoxy. I'd also keep my
flies and line well away from such a patch because of the smell.

HTH,
R

"scott" wrote in message
ups.com...
Grind a wine bottle cork in your food processor, mix with two-part
epoxy, apply to handle, let cure, buff down with a fine-grit paper or
nail file. Done!

Cheap, fast, easy, and effective. However, the trouble with all methods
using, ground, powdered, sanded, or otherwise disintegrated cork in a glue
base is that you lose both of the primary benefits of using cork in the
first place......insulation and, more importantly, resilience. Essentially,
the method you describe (variations of which have been put forward by
others) is that you are simply filling with epoxy or some other gap filling
compound. The cork bits become mere window dressing. Better to cut a piece
of solid cork to fit.....even to enlarge and shape the defect if necessary,
and then cutting and gluing a patch to fit.

I prefer white wine corks because 1) I don't have to
cut the stained portion off the cork, and 2) red wine does bad things
to me.

1) is a matter of esthetics, and I won't try to dictate tastes to anyone.
Personally, I'd leave the red wine stains.....character and story material.

2) tell us more!

Wolfgang

Tom Nakashima wrote:
I got a pretty good size divot where my index finger touches the cork on my
fly-rod. There are a lot of divots but this one is annoying. Is there a
cork filler on the market, or can you make it yourself? Been to the hardware
store, wood filler (not sure if that will do), but no cork filler.
-tom

Use wine bottle corks and a shoe rasp or any course file to make a pile
of cork dust. I have used RTV ( silicone rubber ) to make a paste that
firms up pretty well. roughen up the hole and apply the goop. I have
used this to make entire handles. The RTV caulking comes in several
colors. It makes good rod handles and gives you an excuse to collect
corks.

On Tue, 6 Dec 2005 17:27:09 -0600, "Wolfgang" wrote:


"scott" wrote in message
oups.com...
Grind a wine bottle cork in your food processor, mix with two-part
epoxy, apply to handle, let cure, buff down with a fine-grit paper or
nail file. Done!

Cheap, fast, easy, and effective. However, the trouble with all methods
using, ground, powdered, sanded, or otherwise disintegrated cork in a glue
base is that you lose both of the primary benefits of using cork in the
first place......insulation and, more importantly, resilience. Essentially,
the method you describe (variations of which have been put forward by
others) is that you are simply filling with epoxy or some other gap filling
compound. The cork bits become mere window dressing. Better to cut a piece
of solid cork to fit.....even to enlarge and shape the defect if necessary,
and then cutting and gluing a patch to fit.

Um...sorta. That's why the preferred method is dust rather than chopped
"bits." and a less-hard-setting adhesive rather than epoxy. Think of a
wood dough of fine sawdust versus a mixture of chips and epoxy - neither
is an impossible-to-detect restoration, but the former is preferable to
the latter.

HTH,
R