[sandfly]

use alcohal guenteed to keep her happy....

[flyflingerandy]

Ohhh, I get it now! This is a way to fix the issue at hand. I recommend a glass of merlot for her (and me for the suggestion), and some isopropyl for you, on a soft cloth rag, and scrub! I have cleaned one cork in my life and this is how I did it, minus the merlot.

[Frank Whiton]

Hi to all,

Here is a different idea. I have never used one but I have thought about getting one just to test. The following is the description from The Fly Shop. If any one has used one or buys one let us know how it works.

Frank



Wonder Cloth
[7356]$3.50
Click to enlarge Wet the Wonder Cloth and start rubbing some dirty old cork grip on a $660 fly rod and it'll look like new in minutes! The harder you scrub, the more dirt you'll remove. The results are immediate and the rod is like new again. $3.50 to re-finish the grip of an expensive rod! Our demo rods look like new, and we no longer have to shrink wrap the handles of our display rods to keep them clean. Then we started using the cloths on beat up fly lines, and fly reels, and everything else around us. Computer monitors come clean without damage to their surface. The Wonder Cloth has a positive ionic charge and attaches itself to dirt (dirt has a negative charge). The cloth is extremely absorbent and can be used to clean anything.
• Re-Usable
• Washable
• 13" X 13".

[hardhat]

I will start with warm water. If that does not do the job I am in the rubbing alcohol corner. If the cork is in ruff shape I will use a fine grade of sandpaper.

[fyshstykr]

Originally Posted by Rip Tide

But I gotta tell ya... I never clean mine
One of my rods still has fish scales on the grip from the last time my grandfather used it, from way back in the early '60s

I'm with ya on this one Rip Tide, every fish I catch and handle leaves a bit of itself with me, so I like to call it "Fish Karma" and rub it into the cork of the rod used, and hope for continued good Fish Karma.

[Hardyreels]

Originally Posted by crittergetter

My cork on my Scott is now a mess.. (long story)

So what is the best way to clean up the surface. Will 600 grit sandpaper work? Do I need to go with the grain (arnound) rather than against (lenght wise) on the rod?

Surely ghe rod building forum has a bunch of GURU's that know bunches on cleaning.

Thanks
Critter

If it is only dirty as in "Too Much Fish Slime" warm water and dish detergent will do nicely. I would not sand a cork unless I were trying to decrease the diameter of the handle.

[crittergetter]

Thanks All.. I don't have to buy my wife a new rod...

I can still get my new one now..

So the soft scrub, warm water, Dish soap and a little "Mule Team" borax did the trick. I didn't have cascade. I actually cleaned 3 rods.

And my wife liked how clean and soft my hands were after cleaning all the rods..

Thanks again.. Critter

PS... I am still tempted to order the "Wonder Cloth".

[BlueDun]

Originally Posted by crittergetter

Ok... The truth is I was lazy and grabbed my wife's rod and made it a mess (she is a fly fisher as well).. I am a guy she is a gal.. I don't care about the looks she does....

Hmmm.....the difference b/w you is not that "she is a gal," the difference is that "your gal" is a neatnik!

I'm a gal and I think dried fish slime/grime on a cork handle adds character to the fly rod!