4 simple steps to restore the cork handle on a fishing rod

STEP #2 MAKE THE FILLER

To make filler for the cracks and pitted areas, you need a clean, dry wine cork—real cork, of course, not synthetic. Sand the cork with 220- to 240-grit sandpaper until you’ve got a pile of fine dust, then mix it with carpenter’s glue in a small container. You want a smooth, somewhat dry consistency, like dough; if it’s too runny, it won’t stick. Store-bought wood filler will also suffice. For the rod handle pictured above, in fact, I used both homemade and store-bought fillers in different areas—you’d be hard-pressed to tell which is which.