Do you guys seal the cork on new rods? 2024
TxHawgs reply :
Got some new rods and never done it before. I assume it darkens it a bit which doesn't bother me. But what happens when it starts to wear off un evenly? Then u put another coat on which is un even and it starts to look like crap or? I say wear un evenly because your hand doesn't touch the whole grip while holding it so. Let me know what's the deal don't want to make expensive rods look bad down the road.
kickerfish1 reply :
Yes, one light coat of U40 cork sealant.
Darren. reply :
Yessirree, like Kickerfish, I seal 'em up with
U40. Good stuff. Clean it with some magic
eraser (as has been suggested in other threads).
Josh Smith reply :
Dad used to shallac them.
I don't bother. Skin oils and fish slime work great!
Josh
AQUA VELVA reply :
Never sealed my cork grips. I use a liquid cork cleaner. I don't like the feel of anything between me and the cork.
Molay1292 reply :
U40 for me, have used it for years and have not noticed any build up or being uneven.
TxHawgs reply :
On 3/14/2016 at 9:18 AM, AQUA VELVA said:Never sealed my cork grips. I use a liquid cork cleaner. I don't like the feel of anything between me and the cork.
Where do you get or what's the liquid cork cleaner called?
You guys using the U40, are u saying it's a once and done thing. And never needs done again?
FloridaFishinFool reply :
Absolutely not. Cork is used for a reason. Sealing it changes for me the reason it is used for a handle in the first place. I prefer cork as cork is meant to be.
I have some rods that have been exposed to the elements for decades and are well weather worn. I like the feel of this weathered cork even more than new. I just do not understand the use of a sealant, but this is just my opinion. I would seal floors, wood decks outside, wood siding on a house, but a fishing rod handle? Hell no. Not me.
If I ever got a rod with sealant on the cork it would be sanded off or a new natural cork handle would be put on it.
As a side note, one of my fishing friends had a new rod with the plastic shrink wrap still on the cork handle. I can't tell you how long he used that rod with the brand new plastic shrink wrap still on the cork handle. It had to of been slippery as heck when wet. I can't imagine how using sealant would be all that different???
I'd like to ask those who use sealant- why? And does it make them more slippery when wet?
kickerfish1 reply :
Biggest advantage is to help prevent the cork from pitting. I have had to add wood filler to several older rods from the 90s that had pritted pretty bad. It will help prevent or slow the pitting process down and keep cork filler sealed. Some also like the fact that it will add a slightly darker color to the cork. Another added benefit is the sealer helps add another small barrier between the cork itself and the elements like the oils from your hands, lake water, fish slime, etc. This will in turn allow for easier cleaning when it comes time to clean your cork with a magic eraser or whatever method you use.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
Thanks for those answers or reasons.
TxHawgs reply :
On 3/14/2016 at 10:25 AM, kickerfish1 said:Biggest advantage is to help prevent the cork from pitting. I have had to add wood filler to several older rods from the 90s that had pritted pretty bad. It will help prevent or slow the pitting process down and keep cork filler sealed. Some also like the fact that it will add a slightly darker color to the cork. Another added benefit is the sealer helps add another small barrier between the cork itself and the elements like the oils from your hands, lake water, fish slime, etc. This will in turn allow for easier cleaning when it comes time to clean your cork with a magic eraser or whatever method you use.
Magic eraser is ok on AAA grade cork?
kickerfish1 reply :
I use it on my NRX and MB rods so I would say so. Never an issue or side effect.
A-Jay reply :
On 3/14/2016 at 8:58 AM, kickerfish1 said:Yes, one light coat of U40 cork sealant.
~ X2 ~
This
A-Jay
Bluebasser86 reply :
I just cleaned all mine and sealed them with U-40 last month. It was a lot of work, but they all look nice now and hopefully will continue to do so without having to be deep cleaned every winter.
clh121787 reply :
Nope. Think it's funny when people detail their rods. Waxing, erasing cork marks etc. A good used worn off color cork handle carries a little more mojo. Imo
Fishes in trees reply :
I like rod wraps on many of my rods. The different colors help me distinguish which rod is which when laid out on the deck. I like a little fatter grip than what comes in most of my off the shelf rods. Rod wraps serve a secondary purpose of protecting the cork, I guess.
KP Duty reply :
I'm probably the only person on the planet that still uses rod wrap, but it caters to my ocd. I will go to great lengths to keep my cork chalky new, and changes the condition from 'used' to 'lightly used' if I decide to sell it.
Fishinthefish reply :
Nope, nothing. I don't mind the weathered look or feel of the cork and I've usually upgraded long before pitting starts. I usually keep at most five rods and reels, I don't personally need anything more than that. So every couple of year or two I'll upgrade a rod, then a reel etc.
long island basser reply :
No, I do not.
WIGuide reply :
I don't either, I don't mind the look and feel of worn cork.
tstraub reply :
I never have, but I don't have real high end gear. The most expensive rod I own was $85 and has an EVA foam grip. If I were to take the plunge on a rod with a really good cork grip I would consider making an effort to protect it.
Tyler
MDBowHunter reply :
Nope, I like the feel of the cork. I dont like the look or feel of that sealer, its not that hard to clean them up with a magic eraser once a year. I bought a used St Croix cranking rod a few years back that was sealed by the previous owner, and honestly I turned around and sold it for a couple dollar loss just because I didnt like the feel.
J Francho reply :
Always, U-40. I don't notice any difference in the way the cork feels, but I do notice that my handles look way better than unsealed handles after just a few months.
Crestliner2008 reply :
Been using U-40 for many, many years now and enjoy how they have that "new" look almost all season long. I've had a lot of rods, and have never noticed any difference in feel from the untreated to the treated cork. Easy to keep clean and one light coat is all it takes. Great stuff.
I get my U-40 from Jannsnetcraft.com.
carlm01 reply :
Used sealant on all of my rods ( Loomis) and will keep on using it ....
thebillsman reply :
I use U-40 on all of my cork and in my opinion it in no way effects feel, color or performance.
buzzed bait reply :
i agree with those who have said it doesn't change the feel. i have sealed all of mine with u40 and noticed no difference in feel, but definitely stays cleaner with the sealant.
blckshirt98 reply :
I've never heard of this U-40 but now I'm definitely going to get a jar after reading the comments on this thread, thanks!
Crestliner2008 reply :
Here's one you may not have heard before. Reading some crappie fishing books, one article said to use ArmourAll on the cork! Maybe I'll give that a try. 
NorcalBassin reply :
Also a fan of the U-40 on all of my rods
Wingman87 reply :
I gotta say new cork looks great but I kinda prefer the look of weathered broke in cork. I don't use anything on my cork
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 3/16/2016 at 11:58 AM, Wingman87 said:I gotta say new cork looks great but I kinda prefer the look of weathered broke in cork. I don't use anything on my cork
Me too..& me neither..
Wingman87 reply :
They way I figure it, by the time the cork gets too old and wore out to use you will have a nice vintage looking rod to hang on the wall in your mancave!
Mike L reply :
On 3/16/2016 at 11:58 AM, Wingman87 said:I gotta say new cork looks great but I kinda prefer the look of weathered broke in cork. I don't use anything on my cork
Ditto
Mike
iabass8 reply :
I wrap my rod with the hide of a Centaur and seal it with the tears of a unicorn.
Wingman87 reply :
On 3/18/2016 at 9:15 AM, iabass8 said:I wrap my rod with the hide of a Centaur and seal it with the tears of a unicorn.
Your a savage! No one should make a unicorn cry.... No one
iabass8 reply :
On 3/18/2016 at 9:30 AM, Wingman87 said:Your a savage! No one should make a unicorn cry.... No one
It didn't have tickets to the gun show. I felt forced to make an example out of it. The unicorn forced my hand.
Wingman87 reply :
On 3/18/2016 at 9:33 AM, iabass8 said:It didn't have tickets to the gun show. I felt forced to make an example out of it. The unicorn forced my hand.
I dont condone the act, but chuck norris would be proud.
bt8897 reply :
I U40 all of my rods. I think the U40 darkens the cork a little bit but I think If you ever decide to sell the rod, clean cork heps with resell
PAGreg reply :
Yes and I bet that those saying no because it changes the feel would be hard pressed to tell the difference in a blindfold test.
byram bassturd reply :
On 3/19/2016 at 2:51 AM, PAGreg said:Yes and I bet that those saying no because it changes the feel would be hard pressed to tell the difference in a blindfold test.
This.
I thought that there was a difference when I first used it but I was applying it too thick. Protects and keeps clean with a slightly darker color. No reason not to use now.
ChrisD46 reply :
I'm not claiming to know whether it's the best - but on new rods I used STP protectant spray on my cork grips , when it dries the cork becomes darker though . The U40 appears to be a solid choice and what I would use in the future ... I just thought the STP was better than nothing and was what I had laying around at the time . No issues with the STP - just feel those who use the U40 can't all be wrong !
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
U40 is nearly water thin. I don't see any affect on feel either.
TxHawgs reply :
On 3/15/2016 at 3:50 AM, carlm01 said:Used sealant on all of my rods ( Loomis) and will keep on using it ....
If those were sealed w U40 than I'm sold after what I read. I can't tell a change in the color. Some of the cork on these new rods is too light/white/bright or whatever u want to call it. The new MB orochi rods for example, like them but that cork, wow.
fishincarolina reply :
I use it on all my cork and I honestly don’t think it changes the “feel” at all. The only effects I’ve seen are that it darkens the cork slightly, and its MUCH easier to clean once per year.
WRB reply :
This thread up is 2 1/2 years old, how about posting up to date photos of those NRX rods!
Tom
Heartland reply :
U40 once a year, after a good cleaning with magic eraser.
LionHeart reply :
This reminds me of going over to some of my older relatives' houses (grand parents and such) and seeing their sofa wrapped in clear plastic. Some of you younger folks may not have ever experienced this, but it used to be a thing.
I always used to wonder how they could stand never being about to enjoy the feeling of the sofa fabric due to the plastic protector.
To me, sealing the cork of a rod handle is no different. I like the feel of cork and I ain't about to cover it up with any chemicals. Quality cork handles last a long, long time. No need to seal them.
Choporoz reply :
On 3/16/2016 at 7:33 AM, Crestliner2008 said:Here's one you may not have heard before. Reading some crappie fishing books, one article said to use ArmourAll on the cork! Maybe I'll give that a try.
That's a great idea! I bet Armor All would be perfect for golf club grips, too.
fishwizzard reply :
Since this old thread got bumped up I’ll ask it here, has anyone ever experience U40 getting gritty?
I just sealed a rod last night and when I went to get it ready to take out this morning I noticed a very slight feeling of grit on some parts of the cork. My little bottle of U40 is maybe 80% empty and is probably three or four years old at this point. I admit that the foam brush I used was a $0.05 flea-market special so maybe it’s to blame, but I have been using bushes from the same lot for all my other rods with no issue.
Junger reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 11:32 PM, fishwizzard said:Since this old thread got bumped up I’ll ask it here, has anyone ever experience U40 getting gritty?
Yes, right after applying the U40 I feel like it changes the smooth, rubbery texture of cork to a very fine grit sandpaper like finish. But after using it and getting fish slime on the cork, I stop noticing it.
So for me, it's cork-> layer of U40 -> layers of hand oil + fish slime = feelsgoodman!
stratoliner92 reply :
I did several rods last year and never experienced that, but my sealant was new at time. I just cleaned old cork with magic eraser and rinsed with water. New rods just wiped with wet rag. I used cheap foam brushes that were sealed and put rods in closed room till dry. It didn't change the feel of any rods but it did darken the cork a shade.
Mike L reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 10:40 PM, LionHeart said:This reminds me of going over to some of my older relatives' houses (grand parents and such) and seeing their sofa wrapped in clear plastic. Some of you younger folks may not have ever experienced this, but it used to be a thing.
I always used to wonder how they could stand never being about to enjoy the feeling of the sofa fabric due to the plastic protector.
I still have permanent creases from my shoulders to my thighs!!
????????
Mike
fishwizzard reply :
On 2/14/2019 at 11:40 PM, Junger said:Yes, right after applying the U40 I feel like it changes the smooth, rubbery texture of cork to a very fine grit sandpaper like finish. But after using it and getting fish slime on the cork, I stop noticing it.
So for me, it's cork-> layer of U40 -> layers of hand oil + fish slime = feelsgoodman!
Huh, this is the first one that felt that way for me and it's not an even grit, but some patches I can feel but not see. Very fine like 500g sandpaper is about what it feels like. An hour's use today more or less made it go away in any case.
Bankbeater reply :
I’ve only wiped down my rods. Never have applied anything to them.
Crestliner2008 reply :
I've been using U40 for many decades on all my cork handles. Never had that happen to me. Not sure what's going on there. It's not how you are applying it. I use a dipped paper towel myself. Could it be that it got frozen at some point and that changed it's composition? I talk to a lot of anglers and this is the first I've heard of this problem.
fishwizzard reply :
On 2/15/2019 at 3:48 PM, Crestliner2008 said:I've been using U40 for many decades on all my cork handles. Never had that happen to me. Not sure what's going on there. It's not how you are applying it. I use a dipped paper towel myself. Could it be that it got frozen at some point and that changed it's composition? I talk to a lot of anglers and this is the first I've heard of this problem.
I am thinking that the grit came from my cheap brushes, next time I will buy a fancy $1 foam brush.
NorthernBasser reply :
Question. How often do you have to apply the U40?
mrpao reply :
From what I've noticed it gets that gritty texture if the UB40 has been open for awhile. It seems to start drying out around the edge of the container and those pieces will flake off and get in the solution. Once applied and dried you can feel the pieces on the cork.
If you start off with a fresh container and clean brush, it will usually end up fairly smooth and uniform.
J Francho reply :
On 12/30/2019 at 10:34 PM, mrpao said:From what I've noticed it gets that gritty texture if the UB40 has been open for awhile.
It's from the sulfates in the wine.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/30/2019 at 10:57 PM, J Francho said:It's from the sulfates in the wine.
LOL ~
Good way to wrap up the year.
A-Jay
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