Thanks to all that answered my questions concerning how these grips feel under different weather conditions. Your answers are much appreciated.

One other question that came to mind after watching Tom's Youtube video on coating carbon grips is, would you ream them to fit the blank prior to coating them?

Or would you coat them first, then ream them to fit? If reaming them after coating, does reaming them cause any chipping problems with the finish?

I made my own reamers using 80 grit strips, and I'm a little concerned that their coarseness may present a chipping or fraying problem with the finish and carbon fiber.

Thanks again for the responses. They're much appreciated.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2016 12:51AM by David Baylor.

You can ream before or after. I'd probably do it after top coating.

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X2 Tom. I do all coating on a mandrel then ream to fit blank.

Thank you Tom and Michael. Very much appreciated.

I was hoping doing it after top coating would be fine. I sure wasn't looking forward to trying to set up an entire rod in my home made cordless drill lathe. Would have been a major pain.

Thanks again guys !!!

I have noticed that carbon fiber over foam grips to be warmer in the winter. Initially they are slightly colder than cork but as you hold the grip I believe the foam absorbs and holds onto the heat from your hands. You can hold the grips up to your cheek in the winter after holding the grips for a while and you will feel the heat. Kind of cool for us West Coast steelhead fisherman.

We know some rods are transported inside rod tubes in auto trunks while others are tossed in the back of pickup trucks. That explains why some prefer solid glass blanks, others prefer hollow carbon fiber blanks: form follows function. For some anglers cork or synthetic foam are the most durable, best choice for grips.

We know some rods are transported inside rod tubes in auto trunks while others are tossed in the back of pickup trucks. That explains why some prefer solid glass blanks, others prefer hollow carbon fiber blanks: form follows function. For some anglers cork or synthetic foam are the most durable, best choice for grips.

On casting rods, I ream and glue the carbon grips to the blank and finish it all together (blank, grips) before gluing up the reel seat. These are usually split grips and I have something between them like a tiger wrap and decal. Doing it all at once gets the first coat on my tiger wrap base.