I'm trying to figure out the best way to turn down the rear portion on a split grip handle and want to add either a rubberized burl-type or EVA ring as a butt cap. I hope there's a better way than this:


- Counterbore the butt cap to go over the blank without poking the bit all the way
though.
- Glue the butt cap and cork rings together.
- Slide the assy onto a mandrel that only goes to the butt cap only and turn grip to
size on my vertical lathe (drill press).
- Cut through the cork to remove butt cap from handle and ream/file grip to fit
blank (not sure if I can sand them to the same size).
- Slide rear grip down blank and glue into place, slide butt cap on and glue into
place.


I hope there's an easier way to do this ????????????????

I'm not sure I follow this all the way and I'm sure others will chime in with some ideas. I'll just mention that the last issue of RodMaker showed one way to make the butt end of a split grip. You might consult that if you have it handy.

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I do it two ways
I glue the cork together for each section of the split grip.
Then ( with a hole all the way though) put on an arbor and shape.
Glue onto the blank.
Then the material from the butt cap cork or what ever I used for the end ring is mixed with epoxy and the hole filled. When dry sanded so they match.
or you could plug the end with an auto interier plug, shaped and polished
or a quarter, dime, penny

If Volume 8, Issue 5 was the last issue I saw that one which looks to have 2" worth of cork rings - I was thinking closer to 4" of cork plus one ring of burl or EVA on the end. I suppose I could do it the same way and slide it over the blank from the rear. Seems like I would have to have a straight hole in the grip and then build up the butt end of the blank so it is straight as well. Evidentally this must be how it's done. Thanks.

Didn't see your post Bill, I was typing and watching football at the same time!

Tim Who's winning ? I watch Sci-Fi

I glue my rings up on the rod and then shape by hand using a file. Shaping the cork by hand with a file is not hard to do and does not take long. Finish them up with sand paper when you get the grip the shape you want it. I hope this is some help.

Glue up your rings on a mandrel, and use a couple of the drilled burl/composite rings for the end. Shape on the mandrel, then ream to fit the rod so that the grip goes right to the end of the blank. Then use a SOLID burl/composite ring to finish. Glue on, clamp together, and shape with file and sandpaper to the shape you desire when it is dry.

I think I followed you mostly. Maybe its wrong, I used a foregrip, reamed to fit the butt of the blank, it gets placed and glued before anything with about a 1/2 inch or 3/4 of the blank left pokin out, then a premade cork buttcap, bored just like you said. although they should have fit seamlessly, they did not, I cut a small dark blue plastic ring to go between and soften the edges. (The blank was cobalt blue.) I had to sand the rear portion of the forgrip flat, and the fore portion of the buttcap, it was softly rounded. If you use cork rings, (I have not) I hope they come nice and flat with the hole centered nicely and the flats really parrallel. I hope this for you, cause it hasnt always been the case for me with the premade cork products.

I've done them will good results pretty much the same as above... Glue up the cork rings only, shape on a mandrel - making sure the exposed end of the rear ring is flat for glueing your buttcap on later. Epoxy cork butt to blank leaving a bit of blank exposed for the buttcap. Countersink the buttcap to fit the blank and epoxy/clamp on. Rough-down close to shape using a table sander, then hand sand. (Don't forget to slip on winding checks if using them on the butt end!) A couple of things that have really helped me with this process -- Homemade (or Flexcoat) pilot bits for boring grips, and a good caliper. Good luck!

I guess I just live dangerously. I have one of the little PSI scroll chucks. I put some rubber protectors on the jaws and chuck directly on to the rod shaft in front of the grip. I use a live center in the back. I do the whole grip except for the last ring between centers. The I add the end ring, remove the tail stock, and use my left hand for a lathe steady and sand with the right. Only takes just a little sanding.