Bamboo burl cork

[newfly]

Have any of you guys ever used any bamboo burl cork grips. I have never seen any in person, only black and white pictures. How does it compair to regular cork, as far as quality and look? Thanks

[GonetoSeed]

I'm not familiar with bamboo burl cork. Got any more information? I'd be interested in knowing more.

I have used the burl cork currently available from suppliers and like it a lot. I like the effect of the "grain" when finished with something like Tru-oil. It has a patterned look like wood, but with the feel and weight of cork (although it does weigh more than regular cork).

Here is an 8wt on which I used burl to get the "wood effect", but not have the problems that Danny points out with wood on heavier wt rod handles

http://ngto.launchpage.com/album64/album/Member_Photos/GonetoSeed/clarks_rod_small.jpg

A new type of burl being introduced for builders is Andy Dear's Exotic Burl. It comes in 3 composites: light with just a little dark contrast, medium with a lot of dark contrast, and a complete dark that looks a lot like the old "burnt cork" (chemical "burn" not flamed).

I just got my first batch of the light and complete dark and haven't finished a grip, but here are some samples from other builders.

The top grip is regular cork with standard burl inlays, The bottom one is made of all light colored exotic burl:
http://www.rodbuilding.org/photopost/data/507/medium/Copy_of_pair_of_4wts.jpg

This one has regular burl with inlays of light exotic and complete dark:
http://www.rodbuilding.org/photopost/data/507/medium/s_Exotic_Cork.jpg

[jtysone]

Newfly, I have been thinking the samethink. Cabelas sells them heres the link
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jhtml?id=0031220&navAction=push&navCount=1&indexId=cat20366&parentId=cat20366&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431

They are realy cheap, I have seen them as fly grips too ,but i forget where.
Josh

[GonetoSeed]

jtysone - thanks for posting the Cabelas link. I went to look and saw they are a Pac Bay product and went to Pac Bay's site. They do offer them in fly grips:

http://www.fishpacbay.com/prod_grips.html

Also, after seeing the picture, I thought they the bamboo burl looked familiar and remembered Mudhole's Knotty Cork which also comes in fly grips:

http://shop.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.34/it.A/id.6465/.f

[Ivan]

Hook and Hackle has both the full and half wells for about $6 each.

[Chris Smith]

I ordered some a few months ago, Ill have to say that is some pretty good looking ( and feeling) stuff. Have yet to put it on a rod but it sure beats alot of the mid priced regular cork grips,

just my .02
Chris