My cork handled scopes have seen better days is there anything you guys recommend to help protect / clean the handles?
In reply to Post #2
Sweet! Cheers Gerry!
Sweet! Cheers Gerry!
In reply to Post #4
oooo we cant pull the wool over your eyes can we m8
oooo we cant pull the wool over your eyes can we m8
I use gun oil to protect mine 👍
In reply to Post #6
With a name like yours it's an obvious choice!
With a name like yours it's an obvious choice!
In reply to Post #1
Yep, don't buy cork handles. They always fall to bits eventually, epecially if you are hard on your kit like me.
Been using cork handles since the 1970's and yes they look great.
But I am so over all this nostalga business. This year I decided to replace my aging rods and reels. Full duplon handles. I won't be going back to cork any time soon.
It's not till you use a new state of the art reels, that you realise how naff your old ones were.
Yep, don't buy cork handles. They always fall to bits eventually, epecially if you are hard on your kit like me.
Been using cork handles since the 1970's and yes they look great.
But I am so over all this nostalga business. This year I decided to replace my aging rods and reels. Full duplon handles. I won't be going back to cork any time soon.
It's not till you use a new state of the art reels, that you realise how naff your old ones were.
In reply to Post #8
I disagree, if you take care of your kit then corks last for ages. My current set I've had 7 years and they look almost new. Not bad for a set of cheapish soniks...
I disagree, if you take care of your kit then corks last for ages. My current set I've had 7 years and they look almost new. Not bad for a set of cheapish soniks...
In reply to Post #9
I agree, if you look after them and they are good quality cork.
But as I said in my post. If your hard on your kit and use them an awful lot. Then cork may not be the best choice.
Also the quality of the cork these days is not as good as it used to be. My mates rods handles are in a right old state and he looks after his kit a lot better than I do. His rods are only about two years old.
I agree, if you look after them and they are good quality cork.
But as I said in my post. If your hard on your kit and use them an awful lot. Then cork may not be the best choice.
Also the quality of the cork these days is not as good as it used to be. My mates rods handles are in a right old state and he looks after his kit a lot better than I do. His rods are only about two years old.
I recently cleaned mine with baby wipes! Came up a treat
A few tips I was given by a rod builder friend was, to clean the cork as some have mentioned with baby wipes. They work well, also a light rub over with a scouring or soap pad works but, you need to go easy.
For really sorry looking abused handles, a light sanding will bring them back to life. Then when they are completely dry, applying a cork sealer will help keep them clean, and a lot easier to wipe down. U-40 is a good sealer if you can find some.
As IP100 mentioned, taking care of the handles is paramount, the better you look after them, the longer they will stay clean.
There are many different grades of cork, some are more durable than others.
For really sorry looking abused handles, a light sanding will bring them back to life. Then when they are completely dry, applying a cork sealer will help keep them clean, and a lot easier to wipe down. U-40 is a good sealer if you can find some.
As IP100 mentioned, taking care of the handles is paramount, the better you look after them, the longer they will stay clean.
There are many different grades of cork, some are more durable than others.
In reply to Post #1
I did some 10 foot HiS rods with some large bore clear shrink tube and a kettle. spot on
I did some 10 foot HiS rods with some large bore clear shrink tube and a kettle. spot on
In reply to Post #1
Baby wipes clean them well
Baby wipes clean them well
Also be aware of storing them in sheds out in the garden, Mice have a liking for chewing them to bits.
In reply to Post #13
OMG how incredibly sad ??...... the joy is the feel of cork in your hand a feeling only cork can give ??
it always amazes me when I see these absolute richard heads still fishing with the shipping plastic on the cork handles proper sad bstds 
I wonder how carp fishing has changed to ......not how well something works to ..how something looks ???
OMG how incredibly sad ??...... the joy is the feel of cork in your hand a feeling only cork can give ??
it always amazes me when I see these absolute richard heads still fishing with the shipping plastic on the cork handles proper sad bstds
I wonder how carp fishing has changed to ......not how well something works to ..how something looks ???
In reply to Post #16
Why is it sad because you didnt do it Gerry?
The match lads have done it for years with Daiwa rods, never take the coating off them when new. When it's on you can hardly tell
Anyway, I didn't like it so removed it, and then sold them not long after
Cork handles are absolutely crap imho, put them away wet and they go mouldy, drop to bits, horrible when wet. Times have moved on a long way imho since cork was the thing for rods. Minimal grip on mine and some jap shrink rubber, job done. Each to their own of course
Why is it sad because you didnt do it Gerry?
The match lads have done it for years with Daiwa rods, never take the coating off them when new. When it's on you can hardly tell
Anyway, I didn't like it so removed it, and then sold them not long after
Cork handles are absolutely crap imho, put them away wet and they go mouldy, drop to bits, horrible when wet. Times have moved on a long way imho since cork was the thing for rods. Minimal grip on mine and some jap shrink rubber, job done. Each to their own of course
In reply to Post #17
maybe its because Im from an age where cork handles were the norm and we knew the joy of the cork handle creaking in your hand
as the gear we used was so much more suited to playing a fish than todays broom handle action rods designed to chuck heavy weights long distances and we didnt give a flying f*** if the handle was grubby if it if got to bad bit of light sandpaper sorted it
I absolutely love cork handles F*** all to do with looks just I love the feeling only a cork handle can give me I have never ever had them go mouldy, drop to bits, or feel in any way horrible when wet ??
only time I have heard of cork handles having a problem was when someone left the shipping wrapping on for a year water had got under it and when they noticed the cork was going green and black they took the plastic off and a lot of the cork fell off
but I guess we are different
but for you to suggest When it's on you can hardly tell I honestly think that laughable
maybe its because Im from an age where cork handles were the norm and we knew the joy of the cork handle creaking in your hand
as the gear we used was so much more suited to playing a fish than todays broom handle action rods designed to chuck heavy weights long distances and we didnt give a flying f*** if the handle was grubby if it if got to bad bit of light sandpaper sorted it
I absolutely love cork handles F*** all to do with looks just I love the feeling only a cork handle can give me I have never ever had them go mouldy, drop to bits, or feel in any way horrible when wet ??
only time I have heard of cork handles having a problem was when someone left the shipping wrapping on for a year water had got under it and when they noticed the cork was going green and black they took the plastic off and a lot of the cork fell off
but I guess we are different
but for you to suggest When it's on you can hardly tell I honestly think that laughable
In reply to Post #18
Interesting.
I've had a lot of cork handle rods in the past. Would I have cork handled carp rods again, no, horrible for me, that's why I wrapped those because I thought, these ain't going to last long
When I have put them away damp after fishing in the rain and left them for a while they have had green mould on them in the past, fact, not the HiS, I'm on about old rods
The reason the match lads do is to prevent the groundbait sticking to them, makes sense to me. Pain in the arse to get off
What's laughable about it?
Interesting.
I've had a lot of cork handle rods in the past. Would I have cork handled carp rods again, no, horrible for me, that's why I wrapped those because I thought, these ain't going to last long
When I have put them away damp after fishing in the rain and left them for a while they have had green mould on them in the past, fact, not the HiS, I'm on about old rods
The reason the match lads do is to prevent the groundbait sticking to them, makes sense to me. Pain in the arse to get off
What's laughable about it?
In reply to Post #19
What's laughable about it?
simply your comment >>>>> When it's on you can hardly tell you cant tell the difference between a cork handle and a plastic coated cork handle m8 ?
What's laughable about it?
simply your comment >>>>> When it's on you can hardly tell you cant tell the difference between a cork handle and a plastic coated cork handle m8 ?
I've got full corks on 13 different rods and can honestly say I've never experienced any mould, softening, or anything else going wrong with them. Like them so much my set of customs I've ordered are having them fitted too. Give me full cork over anything else all day long
In reply to Post #20
Ah, I get you, I'm on about looks, feel, agree
Ah, I get you, I'm on about looks, feel, agree
In reply to Post #22
In reply to Post #22
All my carp rods have cork handles and wouldn't have anything else , love the feel of them wet , dry , warm and cold .
Never had any mould on them despite years of putting them away wet
All my carp rods have cork handles and wouldn't have anything else , love the feel of them wet , dry , warm and cold .
Never had any mould on them despite years of putting them away wet
I have cork handles on my barbel and match rods, with the plastic removed. I love it, it always feels good to the hand and it is easier to keep clean than duplon I reckon.
After I have covered it in groundbait or particle juice from my hands at the end of a trip I give it a quick wipe with a damp towel.
When I get home the rods are allowed to dry. I do not leave them in a damp garage or shed environment where mice, mould and damp can 'get into' the cork.
Possibly the oil from dog biscuits helps preserve it as I do get that on my hands, so it gets rubbed in naturally.
After I have covered it in groundbait or particle juice from my hands at the end of a trip I give it a quick wipe with a damp towel.
When I get home the rods are allowed to dry. I do not leave them in a damp garage or shed environment where mice, mould and damp can 'get into' the cork.
Possibly the oil from dog biscuits helps preserve it as I do get that on my hands, so it gets rubbed in naturally.
I've a set of fox euro warriors cork handled, the corks is grubby as fook. looks proper carpy,not blingy. there fishing rods.they need to look used. 
In reply to Post #23
In reply to Post #1
Best to keep Korda goo away from cork handles...not good at all
Best to keep Korda goo away from cork handles...not good at all
In reply to Post #28
Why would I use that s***?
Cheers for all the replies!
Why would I use that s***?
Cheers for all the replies!
In reply to Post #29
Read this with interest, haven't used cork since my old Bruce and Walker MKIV's, brought back the memory of the rod bending through to the butt and the creaking of the cork, happy days. They're still in the loft I hope the mice haven't destroyed them.
Used to clean them with a light sandpapering by the way.
Read this with interest, haven't used cork since my old Bruce and Walker MKIV's, brought back the memory of the rod bending through to the butt and the creaking of the cork, happy days. They're still in the loft I hope the mice haven't destroyed them.
Used to clean them with a light sandpapering by the way.
In reply to Post #30
Cannot get hold of any U-40 anywhere. Does anyonw know where i can get some from, or an alternative sealant please?
Cannot get hold of any U-40 anywhere. Does anyonw know where i can get some from, or an alternative sealant please?
In reply to Post #11
Find baby wipes are good for salty areas too.
Find baby wipes are good for salty areas too.
Take a look at the Lanoguard outdoor spray. Could be just the job. Try another piece of cork and see how it goes with it. Lots of general uses for it.
A couple of my early rods had varnished cork and lasted me into my 20's. Still like cork now don't really look after it and it seems to last ok.
In reply to Post #30
selling for silly money these days
selling for silly money these days
In reply to Post #1
I recently watched a video on YouTube of a guy restoring his cork handles with a product called Mr Clean. They are white pads slightly stiffer than foam but just with a bit water he cleaned a set of cork handles that looked 40 years old and transformed them to look like new again.
My 7 year old Torrix cork handles were very mucky and I bought a few of the Mr Clean pads and they came up a treat seen here, love the cork handles and no reason why you can't keep them clean with the right products.
£2.69 off ebay 👍
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264478386646
I recently watched a video on YouTube of a guy restoring his cork handles with a product called Mr Clean. They are white pads slightly stiffer than foam but just with a bit water he cleaned a set of cork handles that looked 40 years old and transformed them to look like new again.
My 7 year old Torrix cork handles were very mucky and I bought a few of the Mr Clean pads and they came up a treat seen here, love the cork handles and no reason why you can't keep them clean with the right products.
£2.69 off ebay 👍
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264478386646
Had a reply back from Lanoguard and for cork handles they say to use the Lanoguard outdoor spray as it's an anti fungal.
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