1. *Pot, Set, and Cure Times are for Riley Rods RR-6# Pour Foam and RR-321 Epoxy.  If using different products refer to their specifications. Read and follow product label directions and warnings; read MSDS for detailed product safety information prior to use.

  1. ➡STEP 6

Materials/Tools for Step 5

  1. ✦  Composite Sleeving

  2. ✦  RR-321 Epoxy

  3. ✦  Small Brushes

  4. ✦  Nitrile Gloves

  5. ✦  Vice

  6. ✦  Cable Ties

  7. ✦  Epoxy Finish Mixer

  8. ✦  Epoxy Pigment (if applicable)

WET LAYUP OF COMPOSITE SLEEVING

  1. ✦Select Composite Sleeving and cut desired amount.
          Note: General Rules of Thumb:
              * Handles     < 1” O.D. = 1.0” Sleeving
              * Handles > 1” O.D. = 1.5” Sleeving (and 1.25” for 100% Carbon only)
              * Sleeving length should exceed handle length by 3”

  2. ✦”Dry fit” sleeving to ensure proper sizing.

  3. ✦Open up sleeving and place it over a cylindrical object (a bit larger than your grip
       size).  Straighten weave by pushing sleeving together.  Set aside.

  4. ✦Mix Epoxy: 2 Parts RR-300 Resin to 1 Part RR-21 Hardener

    1. ‣Combined mixture should be about 1 g/ml per inch of handle length and diameter.  Mixing a little more than you need is better than mixing less.

      Example: A 12” handle with a 1” O.D. uses 12 g/ml of combined RR-321 Epoxy (8 g/ml of    
                      RR-300 and 4 g/ml of RR-21)

    2. ‣If using Natural Fiberglass sleeving and you want to color it, add pigment to
      epoxy mixture. For minimal coverage add an amount that fits on a flat spatula (1/4"x 1/4"x1/4") per 5g/ml combined epoxy.  For more opacity increase pigment amount (e.g. 1/2"x1/4"x1/4") per 5g/ml combined epoxy.

  5. ✦Mix epoxy for 15 minutes to achieve a viscosity that adheres to the foam core and doesn’t drip off.

  6. ✦Put on Nitrile gloves.

  7. ✦While rotating grip use a small brush to fully wet the foam core with RR-321 Epoxy until it reaches a very consistent “glass-like” finish.

  8. ✦Secure mandrel on a vise (vertically); using the cylinder, that you used to open the sleeving, lower the sleeving over the wet foam core.

  9. ✦Pay close attention to fabric alignment. It should be smooth and tightly adhere to the foam core (no twists, puckers, wrinkles, etc.)

  10. ✦Loosely conform sleeving to foam core and gently pull ends (a.k.a. Chinese Finger Lock).

  11. ✦Start at the top of your Grip and secure first cable tie.  Work your way down the Grip smoothing the sleeving with your fingertips and applying additional cable ties where needed (e.g. for butts, reel seats, finished ends, etc.).

  12. ✦Make a ring with your thumb and index finger (e.g. donut squeeze) to thoroughly
       work in the epoxy and then to wipe off the excess epoxy (e.g. bubbles).

  13. ✦Place grip on rod dryer and gently heat with heating gun (constantly moving) until
       sleeving is fully saturated; approximately 1-2 minutes.

  14. ✦Use a small brush to remove final excess and bubbles.

  15. ✦Let dry for seven hours.

  1. ✦ Pot Life: 40 minutes*

  2. ✦ Tack Free: 3 hours*

  3. ✦ Set-Time: 7 hours*

  4. ✦ Full Cure Time: 24 hours*

FOAM CORE GRIP PROCESS

  1. ✦ STEP 1

  2. ✦ STEP 2

  3. ✦ STEP 3

  4. ✦ STEP 4

  5. ✦ STEP 5

  6. ✦ STEP 6