I will go out on an limb and assume that the old hot melt ferrule sticks are no longer considered the right glue for building rods? Been a long time since I built one and plan to get back into it. Getting my supplies up to date. Is epoxy the best? What about gorilla glue? Is there an accepted "best" type of glue for putting on reel seats and grips these days? Thanks in advance.

I like to use 2-part epoxy paste for reel seats & grips (any seem to work equally well). For building handles: EVA to EVA I like to use waterproof contact cement (same as is used on counter tops). For adhering cork rings to cork rings or wood to cork / wood to wood I like white waterproof carpenter's glue. On tip tops I find I can still use hot melt glue that is used to adhere feathers / nocks / tips to arrow shafts -- EXCEPT on heavy duty rods then it's back to paste epoxy.

There are several options but i use U40's Rod Bond.

eric
fresno, ca.

Hello,

U40 and Rod Dancer make some good paste-type epoxies that are easy to work with. I prefer the slow cure ones as they allow more time for clean up and alignment of components. Don't use Gorilla Glue as it is messy and the parts must be tight-fitting and clamped, otherwise bond will be very weak.

*Edit
There is an article in the Library Link at the top of the page titled "Surface Preparation" you may wish to read. I found it very helpful.

-chad



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2014 06:24PM by Chad Barlongo.

Gorilla glue expands a lot, and it can force its way out of small gaps and you may end up with a difficult mess to clean up. It is great for some applications, but I would stick with epoxy for reel seats etc. and Liquid Fusion for the cork work.

I have used Gorilla glue on some party boat rental rods and have not seen any come back with a failure there is no mixing.I also use two part paste epoxy on other grips and reel seats on other rods and like that alot and hot melt glue for tip tops.

I've used White GG (and other PU glues) for years for grips and reel seats with no issues. Once it is dry it cleans up very easily by peeling most of it off if you use too much.

I've also used GG as a finish on wood. What I've been using lately is LOCTITE® PL PREMIUM FAST GRAB POLYURETHANE CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE that I get from the Orange Big Box Store and it is around $5 for a 10oz tube.

I also second the use of Liquid Fusion (which is a clear urethane) glue for my Red Fir Bark rings because I was having too many failures of the glue joint with Titebond III.