I have done tons of cork handles, but new to EVA. I'm having trouble with a couple of boat rods. The blank O.D. is 15/16" & the I.D. of the EVA is 3/4". I know I'm getting older and loosing my grip, but there must be an easier way to get the grips in place. These are 6" and 13" grips. The 13" are giving me the most trouble. How can I stretch this and make them slide on easier?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff

P.S. I did a search for 90 days and found nothing? Everyone but me must know this....LOL

Jeff:

Look at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at number 20. I have been using this method with great success for years. I like the feel of EVA grips on bass rods and they are they are much easier and faster to apply / more durable in many ways / and less expensive than cork grips.

Sincerely

Lee

Hello Jeff

I just ream them out a bit.
Don't ream them so much that they slide all the way down to where you want them and don't forget that the epoxy will help them slide easier as well.

I don't like to streach them to much if I have inlay's in them because it distorts the inlay to much, but they will still stretch quite a bit.

Have a good day.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Thanks Lee & Robert. I'll give it another try after work today.
Thanks again, never thought to check FAQ's? Duh....
~Jeff~
~~~~~~~~~~<(((><

Other thing Jeff....the harder the EVA the less it stretches. The cheap soft stuff.....no problem sliding 1/2" onto 1". The premium hard stuff.....going from 3/4" to 1" can be rough. The wood grain looking stuff is very hard to expand.

So it all depends. Mostly make sure the epoxy is put up real high on the blank and consider making a push board. Once you start pushing DON'T stop or you are sunk. Only push from the top of the grip. After it is place grab in the middle and stroke it towards both ends.

Oh, don't use 5 minute epoxy and do have a ton of paper towels and iso alcohol on hand:) Count of working outside over cardboard and wearing gloves. The first time or two you are going to make a heck of a mess! Best to tape up the grips, reel seat, and some of the blank with blue painters tape.

After you get the hang they are super fast and easy.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

put the grips in a pot of boiling water to soften them up, or put them in the micro wrapped in a damp paper towel till they become soft...

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

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