cork handles

« **on:** 23/11/2011 at 20:05 »

Wonder if anyone can help?
It would appear that rod manufacturers are having trouble sourcing good quality cork for their rods.
I purchased a Guideline rod last year and within weeks noticed that the cork was starting to crack. Had it replaced a month or two back and exactly the same has happened again.
Haven spoken to a number of other anglers using much more expensive rods they too have encountered the same problem.

Is it possible to fill these cracks and if so what procedure and materials would you recommend.

Andy

« **Reply #1 on:** 23/11/2011 at 20:12 »

What does the crack look like?

Is it radial around a join in the chives or is it lengthwise? It could be repaired either way, i'd try flexing it to open it up and filling it with araldite, if that is feasible, Gorrilla grip might be even better, just remember either way, to wipe the excess of the cork and leave it to fully harden before handling.
Difficult without seeing it and not much fun if it falls on the part of the handle that your hand touches

Sandy

« **Reply #2 on:** 23/11/2011 at 22:56 »

Take a picture and post it, would be useful to see it.

Good cork is available by the bucket load if you are prepared to pay for it, most aren't or can't and still keep rods at a sensible price.

Cheers

Ben

« **Reply #3 on:** 24/11/2011 at 19:26 »

Hope this photo explains a bit better than my written effort.
Would be interested to know if a repair job is worth the time and effort.
Or whether a replacement would be more practical and if so what is involved.

Andy

« **Reply #4 on:** 24/11/2011 at 19:30 »

Ok.

Hopefully I've got the photo attached now.

Andy

« **Reply #5 on:** 24/11/2011 at 20:25 »

Hi Andy

I take it , its the radial crack in the join of the shives that you are worried about, rather than the bits where the filler is falling out.

Personally i'd get some gorilla grip or even PVA glue and work it into the crack gently, wipe all the excess of the surface and leave to dry for a few days, then it should be as good as new. If some dried glue is on the cork once its done, then just rub it off gently (use 800 grit sandpaper if necessary, but only if you have too)
Try to open the crack up a little by pushing the shives on either side, the cork is slightly pliable so should move a little and then spring back into shape

should be no big deal to fix

Hope it helps

Sandy

« **Reply #6 on:** 25/11/2011 at 13:29 »

Interesting thread. I have got an old version Diawa 10' 6/8 Whisker that the meeces have decided to chew the cork handle to buggery in the shed and have thought about trying to get it repaired. It is a sentimental rod as it was used in competitions on Leven, Menteith and Fitty as well as for Sea Trout on the Don and on a very memorable trip the the Western Isles. Mice have since been exterminated ! Also chewed the baws out of my chesties.

All this talk of cork handles reminds me I must go and buy some fork handles.......or was it four candles ?

NB. Readers below the age of 35 might not get it !

Lindsay

« **Reply #7 on:** 25/11/2011 at 17:10 »

Quote from: Loxiafan on 25/11/2011 at 13:29

Mice have since been exterminated ! Also chewed the baws out of my chesties.

All this talk of cork handles reminds me I must go and buy some fork handles.......or was it four candles ?
NB. Readers below the age of 35 might not get it !

Lindsay

You could get the cork replaced I'm sure.

They'll be back, I'm still getting on average 6 a week, keep the traps set! Red Leicester superglued on to the trap is working well, nothing more irritating that checking a trap and finding no mouse and no bait.

Too young, don't get!

Ben

« **Reply #8 on:** 25/11/2011 at 18:17 »

Ben

Try this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Cz2-ukrd2VQ

Alex

« **Reply #9 on:** 26/11/2011 at 12:46 »

Just a quick thanks for the advice and help given.

Andy

« **Reply #10 on:** 27/11/2011 at 16:12 »

Thanks for putting up the clip Catman ! Yep, don't make em like that anymore - Michael McIntyre eat your hear out (can't stand him

).

Ronnie C was on an episode of "Would I Lie to You" a few months ago and the whole "fork handles" thing came up with Lee Mack

Good news my Whisker can be repaired Ben, will have to look in to that. Mice were exterminated in March past - have never come back, "hasta la vista" as the great man once said

Lindsay

« **Reply #11 on:** 27/11/2011 at 17:31 »

Quote from: Ben_D on 25/11/2011 at 17:10

You could get the cork replaced I'm sure.

They'll be back, I'm still getting on average 6 a week, keep the traps set! Red Leicester superglued on to the trap is working well, nothing more irritating that checking a trap and finding no mouse and no bait.

Too young, don't get!

Ben

Superglue! Brilliant Ben. I had 5 last week, and a few raided traps. Think I've got them on the run for the moment - nothing for two nights.

W.

« **Reply #12 on:** 27/11/2011 at 17:33 »

Great stuff Will

I can see us starting a mice hunting section on the forum

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #13 on:** 27/11/2011 at 19:20 »

Guys........... GET A CAT!

It's the way forward especially if you live on a farm!

« **Reply #14 on:** 27/11/2011 at 19:25 »

sorry guys, chocolate is the best thing - chuffers might turn their noses up at a bit of gouda but they won't pass up a milky way.

guaranteed.

Iain

« **Reply #15 on:** 30/11/2011 at 17:43 »

Or Nutella spread...but I keep finding Cass pinned to the floor, so make sure the trap is out of human reach!

« **Reply #16 on:** 04/12/2011 at 16:16 »

Yesterday evening I baited the traps. I had run out of superglue, so it was just cheddar and jam. A couple of hours later I wandered into the kitchen to find (a) two out of the three traps with the bait gone, but not triggered and (b) a very drunk looking mouse staggering around in the middle of the floor. It couldn't seem to get itself on an even keel and just skittered about in circles. The skillful application of the v.stylish Orvis priest soon put an end to the circles, and pretty much anything else it had in mind.

So, has anyone else come across a mouse with whirling disease? Is this the natural consequence of eating half your body weight in cheddar and strawberry jam?

Come on - the world needs to know!

W.

« **Reply #17 on:** 04/12/2011 at 17:23 »

So, what you're saying Will, is that Orvis made a big impression on a 'drunk' mouse and was the last thing (or brand) to go through it's mind

H

« **Reply #18 on:** 04/12/2011 at 17:28 »

W.

« **Reply #19 on:** 04/12/2011 at 17:28 »

Serious question Will, you've not got any boxes of wine lying around that you've not checked or anything else munch throughable that contains alcohol?

Never seen that before and I'd say I've now got quite a lot of experience in mouse related matters and have seen them in many differing states, from not at all dead to almost dead to positively splattered.

Superglued hardish cheese is the best thing I've found, even if the trap is not set sensitively enough to go off immediately, if they've got to gnaw at the bait then it is only a matter of time before they cop it. What traps you on? I've had best results with the little nipper wooden jobs, they are tweakable to make them mega sensitive, take a bit of emery cloth to the top of the pin and squidge the hairpin bit with some pliers, makes them a PITA to set but they are lethal. Never fails

Other than having to listen to the dude that reads the sport on the BBC Scottish news, I struggle to think of anything more annoying than giving a mouse a free meal so I've spent quite a bit of time looking at this shit

Most of the plastic or metal traps are crap. Those vegetarian traps that allow you to 'capture' and relocate the cute little mousey are quite good but it becomes wearing putting the live mouse into a box and taking it outside to humanely dispatch it, but it is the best way to get them all IMO and you always know they've had a quick death.

Cheers

Ben

« **Reply #20 on:** 04/12/2011 at 18:24 »

"Other than having to listen to the dude that reads the sport on the BBC Scottish news, I struggle to think of anything more annoying than giving a mouse a free meal so I've spent quite a bit of time looking at this shit"

Hey, you leave my mate Dougie Vipond alone!
I agree with what you are saying about free meals for vermin, and I know Dougie is a drummer (fair game) but steady on old boy.

Oh and I'm willing to check Wills wine collection to see if any are "corked"

« **Reply #21 on:** 04/12/2011 at 18:50 »

Quote from: Soundmixer on 04/12/2011 at 18:24

Hey, you leave my mate Dougie Vipond alone!

The other one, Vipond is fine, David Curry I'm talking about

« **Reply #22 on:** 04/12/2011 at 19:58 »

Aye, no problem, he's a twat!

Say what you like!

« **Reply #23 on:** 04/12/2011 at 20:50 »

Excellent stuff guys!

I was already thinking of upgrading to the wooden traps. I've got some metal ones, and I think the old school ones look more effective. Wonder if they do them in bamboo?

W.

« **Reply #24 on:** 04/12/2011 at 23:07 »

Quote from: Will on 04/12/2011 at 20:50

Wonder if they do them in bamboo?

No, a Chinese test programme found that under the duress of many mouse kills bamboo fractures and you get split cane.......

H