I ream out my cork grips by hand and have a problem keeping centered, seems I always get just a little off center. I only build for my immediate family & they don't notice my imperfections but I see them & would like to eliminate them, any suggestions.

Jeff
Lets Go Mets!

Jeff, I don't know how you are exactly building your grips or if you are purchasing them already made up. If not, pre-drill your rings to fit the smallest diam. of the blanks taper, where the grip is to set prior to gluing them up and assemble on a mandrel. That way you don't have as much to ream and it's easyer to keep things straight.

If you are purchasing your grips, then I've found that the flex-coat type arbor drills (you can make your own) do a nice job on the shorter grips. Just select the bit that is closest to the diam of the blanks taper and slowly drill out the grip. I found this method works better when I only drill 1/2 way from both sides. Makes a cleaner edge on the ends of the grip.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

Let me clarify, I am using cork handles that are already together, so I am not gluing rings together. Had been using a reamer made from an old rod blank with grit on them to sand away at the center. If I am understanding what you descibed is like a drill bit to widen the center to fit the blank.
Thanks for the help I will look into the arbor drill bits.

Jeff
Lets Go Mets!

Try moving up to a bigger diameter reamer as you go along.This will keep your holes centered.

Be very careful of the grit that is glued onto a section. It can come off and stay in the handle and when you slide the handle onto the blank will scratch the blank.
If you can make them up with the tape that you can get from say MudHole.

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I appreciate the help.

Jeff
Lets Go Mets!