I’d left my hiking poles outside in the backyard for a few hours, only to come back out and find that a cockatoo had bitten a big chunk out of one of the cork handles. These poles aren’t cheap either. They’re the Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles and cost around $229, so I decided to try fixing them myself instead of replacing them.
It turned out to be an easy and pretty satisfying repair that only cost the price of the glue!
What You’ll Need
- Gorilla Glue (or any strong glue that works on wood or cork)
- A cork stopper (I didn’t have any corks lying around, so I just bought a cheap one for a couple of dollars)
- Sandpaper
- Something to grate or file the cork
- A small bowl or container for mixing
Step 1: Make the Cork Shavings
Take your cork stopper and grate it down until you’ve got a small pile of fine shavings. It takes a bit of time, but you don’t need much.
Step 2: Mix the Glue
Put the shavings into a small bowl, add a bit of glue, and mix until it forms a thick paste. It shouldn’t be too runny or too dry.
Step 3: Fill the Gap
If there are any loose pieces around the damaged area, gently cut them off first. Then press the cork mix into the missing section of the handle. Add a little extra so you can sand it down later.
Step 4: Let It Dry
Leave it to set completely. I waited a couple of days before touching it to make sure it was solid.
Step 5: Sand It Down
Once the glue has dried hard, sand the surface until it’s smooth and blends in with the rest of the handle. Start gently and check as you go. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just comfortable to hold again.
Final Result
It worked really well. You could hardly tell at the end that I repaired it, especially after use. The handle feels good again and looks excellent. The whole repair cost less than $10 (basically cost of the glue!) and saved my poles from going to waste or being uncomfortable to hold.
