I WAS JOST WONDERING IF IT IS OK TO GLUE BURL AND AA-CORK TOGETHER TO MAKE HANDLES.IFSO HOW DOES IT COME OUT AND HOW DOES IT LOOK.

yes it is ok if you are going to make a burl cork handle use the AA cork on the ends the burl has a tendency to chip out a little.regards John

Take a look at the cover of the Volume 4 #2 Issue of RodMaker, or the contents page of any issue done this year. The grip on that fly rod is a combination of burl and regular cork. They are considered quite stunning and distinctive when properly executed.

The regular cork cuts easier and faster than the burl. If you do not handle this is the proper manner you will end up with a grip that is scalloped at each regular cork ring. To ensure this doesn't happen, work your grip down with a Stanley Surform file. Do most of your shaping with a narrow piece of 80 grit sandpaper about an inch wide, but hold it at a bit of an angle and keep it moving. Make very sure to hold it taut between the fingers. You want to keep it from cutting just the regular rings without removing an equal amount from the burl rings. This is really easier than it sounds but a bit hard to explain in words.

I have shaped literally tens of thousands of cork grips by hand on the lathe. If you run into any problems, please post again and I will try to guide you through it. In one of the back issues of RodMaker, and also in my book, there are articles/chapters and pictorials on how to shape cork grips. The information contained within does not deal specifically with burl and regular combination grips, but it still applies. Again, let me know if I can be of help.

Tom Kirkman
RodMaker Magazine

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