High Quality Cork Sources?

CrownCityCorey

CrownCityCorey

Sock it to 'em!
Silver Member
Do any of you know a source for high quality cork wrap material. Not that rubberized gasket stuff either.

We prefer a direct manufacturer source as we are looking for quality and volume.

Any help is appreciated.
 
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CrownCityCorey said:
Do any of you know a source for high quality cork wrap material. Not that rubberized gasket stuff either.

We prefer a direct manufacturer source as we are looking for quality and volume.

Any help is appreciated.
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I had some I believe I got from a place that worked on golf clubs. It came in a role and you just wrapped it on in a spiral then cut the ends even with the cue. It was very easy to do and when you butted the edges together the seam was absolutely invisible. The first time I saw one I could not tell how it was done it was such a good job.

I just thought, I may have gotten it from a bike shop. It is used to wrap handlebars.
 
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I was in a couple of model train shops over the holidays. They use cork for the track beds. I am not familiar with the quality needed for handle wraps compared to what I saw in the model shops, and I don't know what sizes it can be bought in from them, but one would think whoever supplies them could supply it in large sheets.
Kelly
 
macguy said:
I had some I believe I got from a place that worked on golf clubs. It came in a role and you just wrapped it on in a spiral then cut the ends even with the cue. It was very easy to do and when you butted the edges together the seam was absolutely invisible. The first time I saw one I could not tell how it was done it was such a good job.

I just thought, I may have gotten it from a bike shop. It is used to wrap handlebars.
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Thanks, but the kind of cork I am reffering goes on the cue handle much like leather. Not a thin strip.
 
That's where I got some of mine, Jelinek cork. I'd be surprised if they wouldn't make whatever you want if your order is large enough.

Martin


JLCues said:
Not sure if they have what you want. I saved this website a long time ago and have never really looked at it. Good luck

http://www.corkstore.com
Jason
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JLCues and CueCrazy, thanks for the leads!

Those look promising.

Unfortunately for the billiards industry, the kinds of volume usually necessary to get a custom made material manufactured are completely unreasonable. We almost always have to use some other industries materials and adapt it to our needs (i.e. it takes forever to find decent ferrule material).

Most cork out there used on pool cue wraps is of very low quality and with a rubberized binder (high-heat automotive gasket material). We can find plenty of that, but what we are looking for is much higher quality and that is dyable.

If we ever find what we are looking for it will benefit everybody as there is nothing else like a high quality cork wrap. ;)
 
CrownCityCorey said:
JLCues and CueCrazy, thanks for the leads!

Those look promising.

Unfortunately for the billiards industry, the kinds of volume usually necessary to get a custom made material manufactured are completely unreasonable. We almost always have to use some other industries materials and adapt it to our needs (i.e. it takes forever to find decent ferrule material).

Most cork out there used on pool cue wraps is of very low quality and with a rubberized binder (high-heat automotive gasket material). We can find plenty of that, but what we are looking for is much higher quality and that is dyable.

If we ever find what we are looking for it will benefit everybody as there is nothing else like a high quality cork wrap. ;)
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Corey, what is the main difference of usigh high quality cork vs. what is available now?

Does it last longer? It can be died?
 
Jazz said:
Corey, what is the main difference of usigh high quality cork vs. what is available now?

Does it last longer? It can be died?
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The rubberized/gasket stuff is difficult to work with as it is prone to air bubbling underneath, won't absorb dyes well, not as sanding friendly as the good stuff and is too sticky in the hand (non-absorbent).
 
From experience I learned that only the black nitrile/cork is sticky. I spent some time researching this over a year ago because of the stickiness issue (even made my hand a bit black!). Neoprene/cork which looks the same as nitrile/cork, is great feeling and not at all sticky. The neoprene/ cork comes in black and natural (brown) binder.

I have all cork sheeting that is about .031. What I don't know is how the material will react to dye and how colorfast it will be afterwards, assuming it does not disintegrate.

Martin


CrownCityCorey said:
The rubberized/gasket stuff is difficult to work with as it is prone to air bubbling underneath, won't absorb dyes well, not as sanding friendly as the good stuff and is too sticky in the hand (non-absorbent).
Click to expand...
 
Paul Drexler does an excellent cork wrap if I remember. Maybe you can give him a shout and ask him?
 
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