Replacing cork tape.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

After fishing this weekend, i noticed that two rods need to be re-wrapped with something. The cork tape is lifting in a couple places and generally just falling apart. A couple questions...

How do you guys like the shrink wrap grips? They are intriguing but i haven't heard any feedback on them. I was thinking of maybe putting some cord underneath it.

Is that stuff hard to put on?

Any pro/cons of the stuff? IS it better than cork tape or just a preference thing.

[numbskull]

The x-flock shrink wrap stuff is very nice and goes on easily over cork tape. Mudhole has it. It is easy to apply with a heat gun. It shrinks primarily radially and only very slightly longitudinally. Cut it a little long and trim it after you shrink it.

[Tagger]

The X flock shrink wrap is better than cork ,,. yes better .. It's not abrasive to the crotch of your waders like cork tape is .. like if your working a pencil .

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

The flock is awesome but I had 2 rods wrapped with the colored stuff from mudhole and it cured like a hard plastic and it sucks. I'm going to have them done with the flock over the winter. I thought it was the same stuff but it wasn't.

[afterhours]

love the x- flock, gonna redo all my rods with it. i think mike and cms both have it.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Thanks guys. I was at Mikes saturday and didnt realize i needed it until i was on the road. Any of you guys put cord under it for some extra frip or is that not needed?

[sokinwet]

I wrapped chord in a diamond pattern and it came out very nice; also have applied it directly over old foam grips. Great stuff.

[piemma]

Love the X-flock. I had Charlie at CMS re-wrap two matching 8' boat rods that I use for lead core and tubes. The stuff is indestructable.

[JackK]

I got my CMS 1201M wrapped with the x-flock and really like it. It shines when wet... If I was in the rain or wetsuiting, it was literally like glue to my gloves. Great stuff. Not sure if the cord underneath is necessary, but I bet it'll look cool, and might make for more padding on the foregrip (which I prefer).

Mike recommended it to me earlier in the year for the fact that cork tape will wear off in the rod holders on canal cruisers, and the shrinkwrap helps to prevent that. Good advice

[zimmy]

x-flock

[macojoe]

Is it big enough to go over the reel seat for the forgrip, or just for rebuilding it this case?? Thanks

[numbskull]

It comes in several sizes and shrinks about 50%. You can easily slip it over a reel seat and still shrink it tight.

[macojoe]

Thanks!! looks like I be headed to Mikes tomorrow

[Doublerunner]

I like the cord underneath personally but maybe that's because I have big hands that are fairly callous. The good part about this you don't have to take off the old cork unless it is falling off in chunks. If it is just lefting up in a couple places you can tape it down with masking tape and then wrap the cord on and then shrink wrap it. One thing to think about when you get the shrink wrap. There is the X flock and then there is the same stuff but without the "X" pattern. If you're good then you can measure out your pattern and have all your cord line up perfectly on the X's. Get the stuff without the X and it is a lot more forgiving. It shrinks down to half it's size around the rod but the length does not shrink down but I still go a little long and then trim it down afterwards.

If your existing cork has to come off first then it would be a good idea to put new cork on before the shrink wrap although not necessary depending on your preference

For the cord I use marine grade twine that I have been able to find at Ocean State Job Lot very inexpensively

[hardbait]

I WRAP THE NO TANGLE DECOY LINE UNDER THE SHRINK AND I TURN THE FLOCK INSIDE OUT. YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO FLEX COAT THE ENDS OR IT WILL START TO SLIP ON YOU AFTER SOME TIME.