Tubing handle material .980 OD - Graphite, texalium, or kevlar? What are the differences between them? Is there any advantage of using one over another? What would you recomend for a rod which will be mostly used for casting lures, but ocassionally used in rodholders for bait fishing? Is any material better and more durable then other or is just simply a meter of cosmetics/price?
Thank you

Assuming we're talking about the same diameter and wall thickness, some graphites (there is more than one type) will provide greater stiffness at less weight than either of the others. But you have to look at more than just the material - what are the actual structural dimensions involved for each one?

.................

I have worked with all three and can give you recommendation.

Graphite is the most similar to what your rod material is (unless you using fiberglass rod) and depending on how you assemble things will provide the best scenario for transmitting vibrations from blank through handle allowing to to feel things better.

Graphite is easier to work with in that it cuts clean.

With texalium which is: fiberglass, a thin aluminum power coating (to create the look), and epoxy. leaves fiberglass hairs sticking out from the cut which must be trimmed. Also if you cut with a abrasive cutter? It tends to melt the epoxy a bit at the cut that exacerbates the challenge.

Kevlar also will leaves hairs to have to be trimmed, and has a unique characteristic in that it is extremely smooth and tends to move (slip) in a resin base (in this case epoxy) Now whether it is enough to cause a problem or be noticeable in a handle I don't know, because I wont take that chance.
They experimented with using Kevlar in bass boat hulls but quite because of this problem. The hulls would tend to shift and take a set like impressions forming in the locations to where the hull set on the bunk boards.

I recommend Graphite

Note: some brands of texalium can have a carbon inner structure below the fiberglass layer, but still have the same cutting challenge

Ok, I guess i got the idea. Now, next question. What is the difference between graphite tubing from Batson and graphite sold by Mudhole, other then price point. Batson material seems to be almost double in price.
As Tom stated, there are more then one type of graphite. Are they that much different?
I am planning to build the rod for myself using this new (for me) type of handle and want to leave it as it is, with no xflock shrink tubing or anything else. Mudhole and Getbits both have graphite in stock already cut to size. I am just not familiar with any of these materials, and want to try. Other option would be a slick but.

Sergiy
Honestly could not answer that question.
I use Batson tubing, or source out side of the fishing industry so I can control specs . There may be little difference between the two apart from cosmetics.
It may be that Mudhole's has a fiberglass scrim. But its been so long since I used their product I don't remember if that is the case.

Modulus and wall thickness will impact price just like it does in a blank. Some builders would not want to buy a high-dollar, high-modulus blank and put a heavy, low modulus insert between themselves and the blank. We wrestled with this issue on the inserts we have coming and ultimately opted for high-mod inserts with a very thin wall for maximum sensitivity.