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Zenkoanhead
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:10 am • # 1 |
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Joined: 12/22/11 Posts: 2056
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Mask off the rod and hardware. Sand the grip to final shape with 330 - 400 grit sandpaper. Leave on the dust. Wet sand with 400 grit paper. You can apply the varnish directly to the grip or to the paper. Create a slurry with the cork dust to fill in the pits. Wet sand again with 600 grit. Let the whole thing dry overnight, even if the grip feels and looks gritty. Wet sand again with the 600. It should dry pretty smooth. Let it dry well and then sand dry with the 600. After this I apply multiple coats of varnish with my finger over several days. After the grip is completely dry, rub vigourously with steel wool. Remove the tape. There are many variations on the theme, but you get the idea. Don
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jkurtz7
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:13 am • # 2 |
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Joined: 11/17/08 Posts: 4828
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jdub
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:59 am • # 3 |
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Joined: 11/18/08 Posts: 3185 Location: Texas
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Here are a couple pics of Don's grip finishing results. (just ignore the gorgeous reel seat hardware and cool little Hardy reel on the first one ) And added benefit of this finish that I've already noticed is that fish slime comes off way easier than regular cork. The gills and trout aren't too bad but the shiners are seriously slimy. (these are both grips that Don finished himself)
Last edited by jdub on Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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armyflyfisher
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:04 pm • # 4 |
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Joined: 11/20/08 Posts: 594
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Very nice....
I'll HAVE TO do that to my grips....What exactly are you using......tru-oil?......spar varnish???
David
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Zenkoanhead
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:14 pm • # 5 |
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Joined: 12/22/11 Posts: 2056
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Tru-oil will work but has an amber tint you don't notice on gunstocks. Spar or polyurethan, any brand, works better because clear. After sealing you can add some Miniwax stain to a small jar of varnish and use that for the last few coats. This softens the pits and grain like a soft focus lens on a camera. Don
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janus73
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:24 pm • # 6 |
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That looks fantastic. thanks for the post.
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pearow
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:50 am • # 7 |
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Joined: 11/18/08 Posts: 1359
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Don, have you ever used miniwax polycrylic on cork? I bought a can to use as a color preservative on some gold thread wraps and I thought about trying it on cork, in similar fashion.
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Zenkoanhead
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:35 am • # 8 |
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Joined: 12/22/11 Posts: 2056
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Never have P. Try it off blank and report your results. Don
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swalker9513
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:06 am • # 9 |
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Joined: 12/25/08 Posts: 186
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So, each time you refer to wet sanding in your original post you are talking about using varnish to make it wet?
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Zenkoanhead
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:28 pm • # 10 |
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Yes. An important point! You can thin the varnish if you like. Don
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