Fiberglass/Cottonwood build

Herkileez

Herkileez

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Just finished this 7'6" 3 wt glass build, with cottonwood bark/black striped cork grip, bright aluminum seat. I kept the wraps fairly neutral to keep the grip as the highlight. I think it pairs nicely with a Gray Wolf model 2 pillar reel.
I have a local stream, full of rainbows, in mind for this one.

7 6 3wt cottonwood 2.jpg
 
[, that beautifulQUOTE="Herkileez, post: 298414, member: 474"]
Just finished this 7'6" 3 wt glass build, with cottonwood bark/black striped cork grip, bright aluminum seat. I kept the wraps fairly neutral to keep the grip as the highlight. I think it pairs nicely with a Gray Wolf model 2 pillar reel.
I have a local stream, full of rainbows, in mind for this one.

View attachment 186079
[/QUOTE]
Wow, that's beautiful!
 
Purrtee lookin’ rod there.
I’d take that to the dance.
 
WOW!!!!! The whole package looks great! Maybe you could share a quick outline of how you created the grip with the cotton wood bark. I'm starting to see a use for those trees now LOL.
Mike
 
Mike Monsos said:
WOW!!!!! The whole package looks great! Maybe you could share a quick outline of how you created the grip with the cotton wood bark. I'm starting to see a use for those trees now LOL.
Mike
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike,
I picked up some dried ctnwwd bark chunks and ripped them into 1/2" thick slabs (with the grain. I then used a 1 1/4" hole saw to cut into rings. I glued (Titebond III) them onto a stainless steel mandrill (slightly larger dia than rod it is going on..to reduce reaming), clamped for 36 hrs, then turned on my home-built lathe. Cottonood bark is very easy to work with...much easier than working with birch bark. There was a method to my madness in using mid-point accent rings, as I wasn't sure if using straight ctnwd bark would cause the grip to be brittle: I used the accent rings as tension relief JIC.

(top grip is rattan over cork)

cottonwood grips 2.jpg
 
One more question, when you cut the bark piece into 1/2" slabs do you use a table saw? Do you first cut the bark chunk into say 2"x say 5" long boards to have a flat edge to stand the piece on a cut edge for the next cut to the 1/2" thick board to be ready for the 1 1/4" hole saw? I guess I'm trying to figure out how to get a piece to the right dimensions before the hole saw step. I really like the look of your grips and hope to try this out.
Thanks
Mike
 
I squared the bottom edge, then cut 1/2" slabs on table saw. (Do outside if possible, as sends fine dust everywhere)
I screwed (very short screws) a strip of 1/4" panelling (not shown) to rough bark side as guide to make 1st flat surface on underside, then removed screws and went from there.

fir bark 1.jpg

old growth bark on left, 2nd growth on rt. (2nd growth has more, lighter, woody striations)
fir bark 2.jpg

switch rod grip with old growth bark accents

fir bark accents.jpg
 
Thanks for the details, I really like the old growth color and look myself. I need to find a cottonwood tree with a downed section. When we lived on Ames Lake there was a GIANT cottonwood tree next door. I really hated the seeds it dropped on our cars and left brown stains on the finish. If only I would have known to grab some of the old bark LOL.
Mike
 
Herkileez said:
Thanks Mike,
I picked up some dried ctnwwd bark chunks and ripped them into 1/2" thick slabs (with the grain. I then used a 1 1/4" hole saw to cut into rings. I glued (Titebond III) them onto a stainless steel mandrill (slightly larger dia than rod it is going on..to reduce reaming), clamped for 36 hrs, then turned on my home-built lathe. Cottonood bark is very easy to work with...much easier than working with birch bark. There was a method to my madness in using mid-point accent rings, as I wasn't sure if using straight ctnwd bark would cause the grip to be brittle: I used the accent rings as tension relief JIC.

(top grip is rattan over cork)

View attachment 186168
Click to expand...
the bark ones look very nice, but i also like the rattan - i would not be as disapointed if i banged it up vs the bark ones.
 
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