It was time to build a new rod. I've had the blank aging for 9 years. It's one of the "Norie-like" blanks that were on the auction site in 2011.
I thought I'd make another champagne and wine cork handle. I had some nickel silver rings that had been included as an extra with another reel seat purchase, and this seemed like a good time to use them.





After boiling and trimming the cork, it's time to drill them, glue them, and get them ready to turn.


Shaped, and on mandrel.

Now to fit the reel seat



I've done this before. Previously on a 6'9" 4 piece with a downlocking cap.

I thought I'd try my hand at pyrography.


Fitting an end cap so as not to have the blank hole at the end

Wrapped with yellow/white/black jasper and black tipping. Three coats of CP, and one coat of varnish before I got impatient (more varnish to come)


I can cast the entire line and a decent amount of backing with the rod. But that's not too much of a trick with a Cortland 10 meter double taper. (3 weight)
I need to do some additional sanding of the reel seat so that the bands can fit up further. The reel bailed on the fight.


I still need to do some additional shaping of the cork on the reel seat and the end cap, do some additional varnish work, and maybe a touch more pyrography (I am considering burning the rod info into the end)

But until then,

Very clever! Have you ever thought about just using the bottom cork from the champagne plug? That is usually super grade stuff. Of course, you'll have to go through quite a bit of champagne. Such a burden!

I love this reuse/re-purpose aesthetic.

At least I am not the only one that lets some blanks age in the “cellar” like a fine wine. Great build!

love the wine cork handles.I have made a few now.I check out our local recycle depot, they have a large
bin for recycling cork.I have found there are a couple of densities of the granulated corks.I like the fine ones
as they are very dense.I found the microwave works great for puffing them back to original size.3-4 corks in a 1/2
cup of water and 1 minute.done.
Just finished a rod that had been cellared for many years and gifted to me.Nice unsanded yellow glass
7 feet.works great with a 5wt line.No name on blank. Maybe oaked chardonnay.

I made a couple of cork seats and grips out of pieces of scrap cork and cork bottle stoppers.The first one came out great and the second one not so good.I may try it again though.