I have just finished a rod with a removable Pac Bay butt. The problem is, the cork in the butt is almost white, while the handle is darker, almost a tea color. Is there any way to stain the butt cork to better match the handle?

yes you can stain cork. cork is basically a wood product so any of your wood stains should work. golden pecan is often suggested as a "normal cork" color. i'd say go ahead and stain both sections the same, not try to match the lighter to the darker shade. use something like light cherry. would look cool with that forecast blue.

some also use tea to stain. search the internet. i think the very few people who stain with tea are to be found among the community of bamboo fly rod makers.

good luck

eric
fresno, ca.

Thanks for the suggestion about the tea. I searched some information on it and it worked perfectly. The fighting butt now matches the handle. Thanks again.

Bob

glad it helped bob. some people apply a product called "cork seal" which is offered by (i think) the company known as U40, which also offers the incredible, miraculous, it dices it slices Rod Bond. cork seal, or in this case, Cork Seal, also darkens the cork a bit. just a shade or so. added coats darkens it even more, but stain works best. some say cork seal also changes the feel of the cork which is something some may not want to happen. but it does seal it.

another product people at times apply is tung oil.

eric
fresno, ca.