I am building a set of 6 downrigger rods (Great Lakes) for a customer
who NOW wants a foam handle in blue with a grey diagonal inlay.
I have some, but little experience with EVA inlays and trim rings. I turn my handles on my Custom Power Wrap.

Here is what I want to do. I am planning on purchasing some tapered Hypolon grips in blue. I am going to make about a 30 degree cut in the butt and foregrip, and glue in a thin piece of gray Custom Grip. Glue it all on a mandrel or the rod blank, and turn it down using dry
wall screen.

Having never worked with Hypolon before am I going to have any problems sanding the Customgrip side by side with the Hypolon? Is one much softer than the other? Will what i plan work? I am planning on buying a couple of extra grips so I can experiment. But if this won't work to begin with, I need to look at something else.
thanks for the help,
Buzz Butters
B & B Custom Flies and Rods

There are always problems with sanding two materials of unequal density but it sholdn't be too bad.
I would get the colors you need in Custom Grip II ( a superior material to hypalon in my opinion) cut glue and turn, You will have to turn down the Custom Grip inlay anyway so why not go with the same material and have a more uniform result?

You should be able to turn the Custom Grip with no problem but the pieces and dust seem to take on a static charge and stick to everything. A shop-vac will pick the stuff up.

Jeff...I couldn't have said it better! I will add that it would be really beneficial to do this outdoors if his CPW is at all mobile.I would also have someone holding the shop vac nozzle.ESPECIALLY indoors!

Out here on the left coast we use mostly hypalon for the durability factor. It wears like iron. It cuts and sands fairly easily and it available in many colors. I'd stick to the same type material for all my pieces if it was me.

Not too sure about Hypalon and EVA, but do know it is the grip of many out on the West Coast. I know this workds nicely for EVA and Customgrip - to get a really smooth baby's bottom finish with these grips, guse a piece of denim jeans as the last material when sanding. This tip was given to me by Bernie Cohen, the master of grip inlays.

Billy

Buzz,
Go to www.mudhole.com/docs/inlay.htm
Bernie Cohen is a pro with inlays. Good luck. Ed