Birch Bark Grip

Herkileez · Feb 23, 2023

(Thought we had a rod building section, but couldn't find it...so posting here)

This grip idea has been in the back of my mind for a while...finally got around to putting it together.. birch bark with wave/burnt cork accents. I'm happy with the result. Not sure what blank I'll put it on...might look good on yellow glass. (just slid onto blank for pic)

Robert Engleheart · Feb 23, 2023

Sweet!

Chinook Angler · Feb 23, 2023

Looks great! What is a good source for birch bark?

Herkileez · Feb 23, 2023

Chinook Angler said:
Looks great! What is a good source for birch bark?

Horse traded some fir bark rings for birch bark a while back, on rodbuilding.org site...just used up my last and would like to find more

Islander · Feb 23, 2023

That’s really nice looking, great idea.

Wayne Kohan · Feb 23, 2023

Birch Bark - Custom Fly Grips LLC

Birch bark sheets, rings, tools, and ring-cutting kits.

customflygrips.com

I have used this place in the past, not for birch bark but for cork rings. Great service.

FinLuver · Feb 23, 2023

Herkileez said:
(Thought we had a rod building section, but couldn't find it...so posting here)

This grip idea has been in the back of my mind for a while...finally got around to putting it together.. birch bark with wave/burnt cork accents. I'm happy with the result. Not sure what blank I'll put it on...might look good on yellow glass. (just slid onto blank for pic)

View attachment 55391

Got an old school look…

Buzzy · Feb 23, 2023

I tend to not look too closely at the cork grips on my daily fly rods (filler seems to go missing quickly), that rod grip is beautiful and would make anyone proud to have.

Roper · Feb 24, 2023

Nice work…!

Kado · Feb 24, 2023

Beautiful

Hillbilly Redneck · Feb 24, 2023

Very nice!
It looks like the grip has some type of finish on it? I've seen cork seal but I have not used it.

Pez Vela · Feb 24, 2023

I did one a few years back... reel pretty, but found the bark hard to work with. (easy to break while reaming it to size) Think there's nearly 100 pieces on this one, and a bunch of Titebond III. I got the bark from Russia (don't ask why) .. and took about 3 months to arrive. I just used a little Tru-oil for the finish..

Herkileez · Feb 24, 2023

Hillbilly Redneck said:
Very nice!
It looks like the grip has some type of finish on it? I've seen cork seal but I have not used it.

It took 4 coats of spar varnish (satin), lightly sanded between. I had the grip turning for the final coat to bring it up smooth.

Herkileez · Feb 24, 2023

Pez Vela said:
I did one a few years back... reel pretty, but found the bark hard to work with. (easy to break while reaming it to size) Think there's nearly 100 pieces on this one, and a bunch of Titebond III. I got the bark from Russia (don't ask why) .. and took about 3 months to arrive. I just used a little Tru-oil for the finish..
View attachment 55578 View attachment 55579 View attachment 55580

Yes, bb is much harder than cork.I use a Stanley sur-form to rough out grip shape, then sandpaper to bring to final shape.I pre-drilled each piece to fit on a 3/8" mandrill so that I wouldn't need to ream. Likely larger than blank I'll go with, but much easier to build up difference than to ream.

Divad · Feb 24, 2023

For what it’s worth the [Rod Building] tag is available in the gear section. I had troubles finding it too.

Beautiful grip, does it hold a wet hand?

Herkileez · Feb 24, 2023

Divad said:
Have doneFor what it’s worth the [Rod Building] tag is available in the gear section. I had troubles finding it too.

Beautiful grip, does it hold a wet hand?

Have done dozens of spey rods with spar varnish on the grip...never had a problem with slipping.

clarkman · Feb 24, 2023

That looks so damn cool!

Herkileez · Apr 10, 2023

I had some more ideas I wanted to try, so Just finished a few more...different combinations, including fir bark rings at bottom.

Bambooflyguy · Apr 10, 2023

Sometimes it’s more fun making things than using them......

Buzzy · Apr 10, 2023

Herkileez said:
I had some more ideas I wanted to try, so Just finished a few more...different combinations, including fir bark rings at bottom.

View attachment 61178

Beautiful! It's funny, I just pulled one of my rods out of the carry tube to clean the fly line and was looking at the cork - most of the filler has fallen out over the past couple years; certainly not pretty. Amazing stuff you're creating.