Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

A while back I posted asking about u40 cork sealer
Someone brought up magic eraser as a good cleaner
Well my u40 came in and I picked up some magic eraser
I tried it with water And it worked well
I tried moistening with MR Clean clean freak. And it worked really well.
Not good as new but pretty darned clean
Brushed on one coat of u40 and they look great. The bottle of u40 will last years. It does very slightly darken the cork but not obviously so.
I didn’t notice any slickness. But I didn’t try it with wet hands. We shall see
Went ahead and cleaned outside of reels and the rod blanks with mr clean and paper towels while I was at it. My chronarch Ci4 was grungy. The rest not bad.
Got baitcasters done . I’ll do spinning rods tomorrow.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

If you desire "good as new", it is achievable easily. Depending on the depth of the stains or dirt that you wish to rid your handle of, a small piece of 180g, 220g, or 320g sandpaper used with judicious pressure , on an extremely DRY cork handle, is a 3 minute task that I perform a dozen times a year on various rods. Easy-peasy. Tape off reel seat area and end cap if you feel your strokes might go astray.
I have never understood, much less used, any "sealer", as the whole point of using cork is the "feel".... obviously diminished or denied by ANY type of sealer.
Most likely don't want to engage me in "rationale" in opposition, as I have been engaged in the "restoration" of all manner of objects....wood, metals, plastic, cork included (restoration of a cork-covered "Isamu Noguchi original" cocktail table) you name it....since I was a child and then professionally for 40+ years.

Treat your rods and their handles however you like, not my call or my business, but just be aware, that if you "gunk up" a handle with any product, whatsoever, and eventually I end up buying it at a pawn shop or a yard sale, I will be cursing at you 'in absentia", whilst I apply my skills to "undo" the harm I perceive has been done....... sorry if you feel your "ears burning" as I do so !
Nothing personal, really, just annoyance at products that market in such a way, that they convince folks to buy the latest "miracle cure" for what you perceived as something that needs fixing....imo, it doesn't.

PS...if you use a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser, do wear gloves, as the composition of the sponge contains miniscule particles of MELAMINE, as well as chlorine bleach, ammonia, and a compound containing a form of formaldehyde... just sayin'.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Damn Fixorfish. You are just plumb fill of good news.

fishinphil

at least hes not really peeing on your cornflakes.

Egghead

Well, I'm with fix or fish on this one. Lol. But it one thing to know when sanding cork, it is porous and might need filled in. You can get cork filler and resand. I usually sand out to 1200 grit for smooth handles.
Show us some pictures of your work Ben. Always nice to see the end result.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

I’m thinking any day you find a GLX at a yard sale is a day I’d be grinning so big , I’d forget that the dumbs$j put sealer on the cork

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Spinning rods done
The picture of the rod by itself is an 8 year old loomis Bronzeback
Cleaned up really nice.

Mustang66 Loc: Lake Palestine,TX

I have always used a Brillo Pad to clean my cork handles. Scrubbing till clean then rinse well and dry. Brings back that new cork feel. I have never damaged a handle.
I laugh every time I see the guy that leaves the plastic covers on his/her handles. No cork feel there LOL.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Gotta say. After full cure I can’t tell a sealer was applied.
I don’t have the most sensitive hands , but on a brand new rod, I can’t detect any feel
On a cleaned rod I think it might feel a little more texture , but that might be that the dirty cork was a little slick.
I’m seeing mixed reviews on this sealer both here and other sources.
Seems you either love it or hate it.
Lots of “ purist” folks that like natural
Patina . I never really gave it much thought till recently when I bought my most expensive rod. Got me thinking about keeping my handles looking good .
I always just did a casual cleaning during winter.
My handles look great. I can’t tell there is a sealer on em by feel. I think I’m happy .
Gotta say, I love cork. I have rods on cold storage just because they have EVA

agatemaggot Loc: iowa

I use Comet Cleanser with a soft bristle brush each Spring and don't seal after as I like the texture feel and grip !

CharlieS

I just recently gave up building rods due to hand arthritis after a period of 65 years. The majority of the rods I built (mostly fly rods) I formed and sanded the handles and finished with 600 grit which made them baby smooth. I then washed the handles to remove any loose cork dust and let them dry. After cork sealer came on the market I applied that and let it dry. It in no way affected the feel of the cork and did allow any soiling from dirt, fish slime, or hand oils to be easily washed off with dish soap and a sponge. I kept meticulous records and the last rod I built was #1837. My first was built on a Silaflex bland for stripers and sturgeon in and around San Francisco Bay for a bait and tackle shop in Oakland, CA.

I’ll be moving to Oklahoma in the next 4-5 months from our latest abode just to the south of Bend, Oregon. We need to get out of this developing communist state. Really looking forward to meeting new friends and learning new techniques fir fishing all the species there. Until then, howdy!

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Cork isn't porous, but it is pitted.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Ben.... my money is on the fact that you'll be fine. Some people........

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Yes sir. I’m happy with how they turned out

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Yea it is porous. Also has voids. Or pits
I have a glx casting rod. Never really looked at it close until I cleaned and sealed it.
For what I gave for this rod , I kinda hoped the cork was better. Lots of fill
For what it’s worth , I have rods of lesser value that have better cork than this one.
The NRX cork looks excellent
The St croix legend cork looks excellent. Really all my rods cork looks better than this GLX.
Kinda disappointing. But still functional and a really nice rod