For those guys just getting into it and considering a lathe purchase before beginning to turn their own cork, check out the photo's I've put up on my first cork grip turned without the use of a lathe.

Using a Craftsman drill, a 3/8 threaded rod, an old "V" stand that I had used for wrapping guides, and sandpaper from 50 grip through 320, I was able to turn this grip in around 30 minutes.

I am not suggesting that a lathe isn't a valuable tool, but in a pinch (and if you're resourceful), turning cork on a drill is an easy and cheap option before you make the investment.

After looking at the grip for a while, I plan on altering it slightly from what is pictured to include a small fighting butt made from a 1/3 burl cork ring and a rounded down rubber/cork ring.

Many thanks to Marc Forrest and his "worried shrimp" web blog and my friend JDM, Youngstown, Ohio. Their knowledge sharing "generosity" and Marc's many instructional photos gave me the courage to attempt this project!

Hope you like!

Domenic Federico
Infinity Rod Creations
Wickliffe, Ohio

This is mine and works great
[www.rodbuilding.org]

As a casual rod builder, I also have gotten by using a drill and threaded rod to turn my grips. I have found recently that using one of Andy Dear's mandrels provides a much more stable rotation than threaded rod, which tended to wobble. Inexpensive and you can use the same drill/jig you used with the threaded rod.

Jeff Shafer

I used to use the treaded rod, and it worked well until they got bent (seemingly unpreventable). Now I use a graphite arrow shaft I found in the woods recently and it works excellent. Just lop off the feathered end and chuck the drill to the head. Nice and straight.

Ray
Juneau, AK

ya can also use scrap glass blanks. If not stiff enough one can be glued into another

Ray, what's the arrow shaft diameter? I can make mandrels and also use allthread, but the graphite arrow shaft sounds good too.

I think it is 3/8", so the grips need some slight reaming before they'll fit on the shaft. I just chuck a 3/8" dia. rattail file and bore thru at both ends, which makes a nice tight, but not too tight fit. I also plugged the ends with rod bond so they wouldn't split.

Ray
Juneau, AK