Making A Ventilated Grip

 I've always liked ventilated grips. I like the look of them and they perform well. With some tapers you can actually feel the rod bend through the vented grip. If you haven't tried a rod with one of these grips, I highly recommend giving it a go.

Here is a short tutorial on how I make them up. This is one way of making a ventilated grip. There are other ways to do it. I just think this is the easiest.

A NOTE BEFORE I GET INTO THIS. PLEASE BE SAFE WHEN USING A LATHE. NO LONG SLEEVES, NO JEWELRY, ALWAYS WEAR SAFTEY GLASSES AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE MACHINE YOU ARE USING. WEAR A DUST MASK.

I start by gluing the cork rings directly onto the rod blank.

Tape off the blank in case you hit it with the sand paper while shaping the grip.

Figure out the depth that you want to use for the vents and then zero out so you can repeat the cuts along the grip. I use 1/2" cork rings so I measure out .250 which is half way across each ring. Mark each ring at the halfway point. The cuts are made at the center of each ring, not on the glue line. I also leave one whole ring at the front and back of the grip. I believe it makes for a sturdier grip that will last much longer. I use a fine cut off tool for a mini lathe that measures .040 to make the cuts.

The vents are made along the grip before shaping it.

Once all the vents are cut I use 400, 600 and 800 grit sand paper to clean them up.

After the vents are cleaned up, I turn the grip as normal.

Clean up any rough areas in the vents again and then final sand with fine grit paper.

Here's a rod with a ventilated grip all finished up.

Thats it. No coins, spacers or thread between cork rings, and no glue mess. As I said before this is not the only method for making a ventilated grip, but it works and its quick and easy.

Don't mind the mediocre cork. This rod is for me and I use all the cork rings that do not make the cut for customer rods.

Thanks for reading.

Best, Anthony