I have seen a step-by-step video for installing shrink wrap over the grips on a new build but am unable to locate now. Video showed how to get a perfect fit on the ends that meet the reel seat. Does anyone remember seeing it and know where I can find it on line?

Are you referring to the clear plastic protective shrink wrap or the textured material that can be used as an over grip?

Joe Moriarity
Director Of Operations
Custom Fly Grips LLC
[www.customflygrips.com]
[www.facebook.com]
joe@customflygrips.com

I've never seen a video, but it's pretty easy to do right. I put shrink wrap on all of my floor model rods that will be displayed and played with by customers in a shop. Make sure you leave a little lip of plastic so when someone buys it you can easily make a cut in the lip, and then rip the rest of the plastic off. Don't use too much heat or you will leave burn marks on the cork!

I usually install my shrink wrap on a mandrel attached to a drill. Spin the drill slowly to distribute the heat evenly. Work from one end to the other, leaving a little overlap that can be cut off with a straight razor blade when you are finished. For the small end of a reverse half wells grip, I usually heat the shrink wrap to the end, then while it is still soft, I grab the shrink wrap while the mandrel is spinning to get it tight around the grip. It ends up with a spiral screw pattern on the end, but it will be hard to get it perfect. The shrink film is only meant to shrink about 50% so for thinner ends of grips you may not be able to get it close to the grip without using that method.

Joe Moriarity
Director Of Operations
Custom Fly Grips LLC
[www.customflygrips.com]
[www.facebook.com]
joe@customflygrips.com

Is this the link you was looking for: [youtu.be]

I think this is what you are looking for From MudHole
[www.youtube.com]

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for all the responses. I was referring to grip material such as x-wrap. The one I remember showed a way to mount the x-warp where the fore grip meets the reel seat so no edge showed. I haven't found the original video I remember but have found several others on youtube that suffice.

Hello,

I searched for that one too awhile back with no luck. Have seen and done it before though, and if I remember right the process was to cut the heat-shrink a bit longer than the grip at both ends.

Gentle heat is applied from the center out, then grip is held vertically and the ends are pressed down on a hard, flat, surface for a minute or two.

This will fold the heat-shrink over all the way to the bore. Any material that overlaps the bore is trimmed and then the grip installed as usual.

-chad



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2014 07:33AM by Chad Barlongo.

Chad - Is this the one you are referring to: [guidespacing.com]

Don't think the link will work properly but It's on the Batson site under Tips and Tecniques. Not a video but a slide show, maybe what I was looking for.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2014 03:20PM by Robert Hummel.

Robert,

Yes that is the one I recall seeing, maybe not a video but it worked well for me.

Only difference is I don't use spray adhesive, rather a super thin coat of rod-bond--more working time and easier to clean up.

Appreciate you posting the link.

-chad