I build a few rods and got the urge to turn a few cork handles myself, so I set about getting a few prices.

The cheapest half decent shives (1 1/4 X 1/2 x 1/4 bore) cost between £1.55 and £2.00ea, so to build a 7 1/2" RHW would require 15 shives at say £1.55 so total is £23.25 this does not inc glue, labour, sanding materials etc, here's the twist, the same dealer will sell me a handle using his best grade of cork (£1.55 x 15) for sub £20, that's right, it would cost me over £3.00 more to make my own?????

Yes £23.25 for the rings only or under £20 for a built grip using the same quality cork from the same seller.

And this is not a one off, many companies seem to charge more for the materials than the finished grip, what the hell is going on??.

Struble do good grips, you cannot buy the shives for the cost of the finished item, are they just giving us a great deal?.

One price I got a while back for so called top cork would have cost me £37+ to produce a handle of 7 1/2", something is not right here!.

Anybody looked at sourcing cork from Portugal?? it's good to support your local dealers but I feel we are getting turned over proper on this one

Reg, V

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"Perfection will do"

We're getting turned over all the time it seems to me. Especially on mono or flourocarbon and most certainly on fly lines. Cost pence to make. As for carbon rods well lets not even go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That doesn't add up Gary, very strange, specially when you think how much cork is simply thrown away from wine bottles etc.
I know you and I do our fair share of cork pulling, and I have a drawer stuffed with the corks, as I can't bear to chuck them out.
I know it's a different thing, but all from the same tree so to speak.
Perhaps it's time we looked more closely at Q suber, some reckon it's the way forward, I haven't had a feel of it yet, but Martin gave it a good write up.
It would be interesting to know why cork has shot up like this, perhaps Steve Parton can shed some light.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

LOL, yes it's a strange one, I noticed Steve P had shives listed at 65p (iirc), I just cannot get over the average cost of so called CG1, H1, flor grade etc, I may import my own cork and grade it RO 1.

Why it's cheaper to buy a pre made grip just does not stack up, it's really got me hacked off big style.

And yes Seeker, lines are an other con, at least that con is global.

Regards, V I'm off for a Steven..

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"Perfection will do"

Bit late to be starting on the G, I had my two evening glasses at 7.30.
What's iirc mean. I keep seeing it, and it's got me foxed.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

If I remember correctly it means "if I remember correctly"

The problem is simply that there's an ever shrinking supply of quality cork. The demand for cork from the wine industry has shrunk dramatically in the last few years - how many bottles of wine now come with metal screw caps or plastic 'cork', a trend that's extending into even the higher ends of the market. Corks for rod building have always been a tiny off-shoot of the industry.

As a result, many of the cork tree plantations have been ripped up, especially in areas where development land is of a premium.

So, simple supply and demand - if you want to build a high quality handle I'm afraid you're going to have to bite the bullet, buy at least 100 corks, then sort through them and pick out the best 16 or so and keep your fingers crossed there are no hidden pits when you turn them down.

Keep smiling!

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Hi Viking have a look at McHardys new 2010/11 catalogue, hope this helps alan

Cheers Al, thanks, V

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"Perfection will do"

In which case Reg you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. You where getting a bargain there!

In my business to keep high quality finished cork handles prices as low as possible - which are all machined finally to shape to the size and shape ordered by the customer, we build up the cylinders of cork to length in bulk ready for final turning to size.

My lad who has just graduated from univerisity and can't get a job to suit his talents at the moment, who's uni fees I paid for some years, did the last lot as a favour to help out his old man.

Furthermore when new stock arrives and we have it in bulk prices come down. As stock reduces prices rise as the supply is limited. That is just simple economics and commerce. We now have fresh stock. Prices are down...


"What the hell is going on?" You ask.

I don't know if you have ever run a business that stocks goods for sale? If you haven't, then try to imagine sitting on thousands of pounds worth of stock that may or may not sell, with rates, rent, mortgage, overheads, all stacking up whether the goods sell or not....... It will soon change your mind about pricing stock to meet the cost of overheads, never mind paying yourself or your employees a wage....

By all means go direct to the tree growers. I think you may get a surprise about how much you will need to spend with a supplier in Portugal to get what you think is a fair price for top quality cork.

You then of course have to sell it...... Getting it here costs money, advertising costs....sit for a day or two grading it, or pay someone to do it, and then there are overheads to pay for, tax on your earnings etc etc......




Regards,

David.




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