I am as new at this as you can get. Still doing research and plenty of reading. I've pretty much decided to start with a hand wrapper, not sure which model yet, and possibly move up down the road. I was looking at the mini lathes for turning cork. I know you can file and sand the cork by hand but the lathe would make it much easier and I would think more true. I was looking at the PSI and the Jet. They both look identical except for the price. I did see an earlier post comparing the two. My main question is what extras would I need for just turning cork. I assume a self centering chuck and a dust collector. As for cutting tools, I'm not sure. I would only use it for turning cork for handles. I have no interest in wood reel seats or inserts. Any opinions or help would be great. I have also decided to go the the Rod Builders Show which I'm looking forward too.
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I've been there and basically still am. Question 1: I'm quite happy wrapping by hand with the Flex Coat Hand Wrapper, Model HW1, about $62, many sponsors have it. It may be all I ever need. I was less happy with the cheaper FC EW1 and replaced it with the HW1, which has a very desirable sliding thread holder. Question 2: For just turning cork, I strongly recommend the Grizzly Hobby Lathe (not sold by the sponsors that I know of, go to www.Grizzly.com), about $40, and there is no better bargain, though you will need to also buy their drill that fits, another $40 or so, if you don'y have one that fits. With that, you must also buy mandrels, at least one with a 1/4" diameter. Andy Dear of sponsor Lamar Reel Seats sells them, not expensive. You will then need to mount the lathe on a sturdy plank, and the only other things you need are sandpaer in various grits (I use from 60 to 220, others go as far as 400), a dust mask, and goggles. No clean-up at all, the beauty of this lathe is you can easily carry it and set it up outdoors. I then blow all the cork dust away with a leaf blower.

Tom pretty much covered it all but I would like to point out that there are many accomplished builders that use and wrappers and many that have power wrappers use them without power. I have the Grizzley Hobby Lathe as well as the PSI Lathe. I got a lot of use out of the Grizzley and in the summer, take it out in the yard to turn cork & EVA.. You won't need a chuck with it as you chuck the mandrel right into the drill. Great setup If there is the remotest possibility that you might want to take it a little further, I would opt for the PSI now.

[www.fishingphotos.net]
As far as dust collection, I use an old square box fan and tape a GOOD furnace filter over the side that pulls the air in and set it as close to the lathe and what I'm turning as possible (filter facing the work) It works great on keeping the dust down. Still sueprizes me how good it works (I think that it was Tom Kirkman that first posted that tip)

Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2005 03:14PM by Mike Barkley.

Don.....
I am in the same boat as you. I haven't built the first thing. What I have done is read a lot....watch a couple of videos.....and visit this site on a daily basis ( there is a ton of knowledge here).....and I have been acquiring tools....and equipment. I have been building reamers with scrap blanks and abrasive tape and contact cement.

I recently bought the Grizzly lathe and drill combo for less than $100.00 delivered. This set up will work very well for building cork or eva handles. With a mandrel (which I haven't purchased yet) and a couple of reamers, I will be able to build all the handles I want. I just ordered a couple of Nicholson round rat tale files, that can be modified to fit in the Grizz and be used as power reamers....this should really work great. I think I will be very happy with this setup.

If you do a search on this site for Grizzly lathes....you will find tons of info over the past year or so concerning the use of this lathe. Also...check out the modified clamps for glueing cork......much better than the threaded rod type clamp.

I am also going to attend the Charlotte show, ...... looking forward to it.

I must say that I am very pleased to have this site as a reference......everyone here is so free with their knowledge......makes things easier for a newbie like me. thanks, pb

If you have a Menards store near you they have a small hobby lathe for about $90.00 can't beat it, The Jet is the one I use the most, but I do have them both. One has the #1 MT and the other the #2 MT.

You would be saving money in the long run to invest in a lathe rather than a "set-up" for a hand drill.. Like they say," the right tool for the right job"...

Tight lines,

Art

Thanks for all the replies. I should add one more thing. I am a bass fisherman, I had a few rods built for me last year. They are the revolver/spiral wrap type, split handle, split reel seat, and no foregrip. This is primarily the type rod I would be building. It's really not much cork since the handle is split. Has anyone built this style rod and used a lathe vs. just shaping them by hand? Would it be easier to just glue the cork rings on the rod first then sand by hand? As I said, I am new and just searching for as much information as possible.

I have seen people that can sand cork by hand. I am not one of them. It is hard to work by hand. Anything that turns is better.

Another way to go is to just buy the pre-shaped handles and ream them to fit. I really enjoy building my own, but I have lathes and things. I think it costs less to buy pre-shaped handles than it does raw cork.

There is at least one professional custom rod builder, George Roth, who makes all his cork handles by hand. Many if not most of his rods are for bass, and he makes many split-grip spiral-wrapped rods. His web site [www.georgescustomrods.com] includes an excellent tutorial with photos about converting a conventional handle to a split-grip. Be aware, it does take more skill to go that route, with a lathe about the only thing can go wrong is you can easily take off too much cork.

I have contacted George. He has provided me with some information. I may have him build one for me just to see his finished product and I have heard nothing but good reports about his rods. Since I'm seriously thinking about taking up this hobby, I may use the money to get started building on my own. The ones I had built last year were all done by Brad Tharp at Everything Bass, they are called Tactical Assault Rods. I've also emailed Rich Forhan a couple times regarding spiral type rods. I may contact Rich again after reading a couple of his articles from previous Rod Maker issues.

Don: Your email is "Hidden." Correct that by going to My Control Center/Edit Privacy Options/check the box confirming your email.

My email is now visible.....thanks!