TackleTour

Hey guys! Anyone have any tips/tricks on cleaning/restoring dirty & worn out EVA handles? Can't seem to find anything on this. Thanks!

With some of these "vintage" rods of say 1980's etc with hyperlon foam grips I've been buying lately, that have become full of sweat, grease, fish blood and guts etc of the previous owners...

Warm bucket of Chemtech CT18 - you'd have an American alternative heavy duty truck wash and dilute that a little more than needed / says on the bottle into a bucket of near hot water...

I use a good quality scrubbing brush with stiff bristles and go to town on scrubbing it... I've managed excellent results without the need to put the rod on the lathe and remove any through sanding...

Scrub and dry and find areas that need doing and repeat. Just don't gouge the hyperlon / EVA with anything.

Dents can be lifted by pouring boiling water over it. This won't work for cuts or chunks missing. Im just talking compressed areas.

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:56 pm

Dents can be lifted by pouring boiling water over it. This won't work for cuts or chunks missing. Im just talking compressed areas.

For real?

Thanks for the replies everyone! My only rod with EVA grips and it's bugging me to look at Gonna try the Chemtech & give the boiling water a go for sure.

Hogsticker2 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:21 pm

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:56 pm

Dents can be lifted by pouring boiling water over it. This won't work for cuts or chunks missing. Im just talking compressed areas.

For real?

A guy I know in Japan told me about that one. It took a few tries, but it worked for one creased area on a swim bait rod I used to have. Not sure about hypalon, but it worked for me on standard EVA.

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:08 am

Hogsticker2 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:21 pm

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:56 pm

Dents can be lifted by pouring boiling water over it. This won't work for cuts or chunks missing. Im just talking compressed areas.

For real?

A guy I know in Japan told me about that one. It took a few tries, but it worked for one creased area on a swim bait rod I used to have. Not sure about hypalon, but it worked for me on standard EVA.

Are we talking a minimal gentle pour, or a full on dunk?

I took a full ladle while it was boiling and poured it slowly over the handle at the crease, into the kitchen sink. Did it 3 or 4 times. I tried to keep it laying flat across the sink, to avoid getting it on the reel seat and the butt, because high temps can soften epoxy.

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 20, 2020 4:58 pm

I took a full ladle while it was boiling and poured it slowly over the handle at the crease, into the kitchen sink. Did it 3 or 4 times. I tried to keep it laying flat across the sink, to avoid getting it on the reel seat and the butt, because high temps can soften epoxy.

I shall try