I often trace aruond a standard cork ring to get a perfect cicle on foam trim handle material. I then cut them into as perfect a circle I can create .How do some of you then find the exact center point of the cut out trim ring and how do you punch it out? Thanks Stever

I never worry about the exact center, as I'll be turning it down, anyway. I mark the center when tracing the cork ring and use a short piece of brass tubing that has been given a sharp edge to make the hole.. I do try to make the hole slightly larger than the mandrel I'll be using so it doesn't bind and distort when sliding together during glue-up.

WHy bother tracing a ring? Just cut a larger square disk and sandwich it in between rings, once you sand it down it's perfect and nobody knows. MUCH easier than trying to align everything perfectly when you glue it all up. CEnter hole, doesn't need to be perfect, I cut an X, then cut the flaps off after I glue it on one side of the cork (or EVA).

TEHre's 2 ways to do this, one way takes longer is harder to do, and you can mess it up if not careful. THE other way is quicker and you'll NEVER have a problem.

Billy's got the quickest way. What I usually do is use a cheap 1 1/2" hole saw in my bench top drill press and make a ton of disks all at ones. I use craft foam in various thicknesses, cork tiles, various colors, thickness of gasket material, corian, what ever material that you can think of. They don't look very "finished" at this point, but once glued up and sanded, turnes, they are very nice.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2006 10:44AM by Mike Barkley.

STEVE , I use a sharpened copper cap used for ending water lines, I use two sizes, a 1" and a 1 1/4 inch, I sharpened the edges so it cuts and I have two ways to use these cups. one is I have a 1/2 ton arbor press, and I place the foam and cutter in the press and press cut it, or if it is the fun foam stuff, you can do it as if you were cutting round christmas cookies. First I must explain that I also have hole punches that I use to cut the center hole. I the mean time I have the same size hole drilled in the top of the copper cap. So I punch the hole first, and then twist and cut or press and cut. This has worked well for me. I also use eva strips, and for those I use the hole saw method on my drill press. Just my way to do things. Galen Briese

Billy Vivona Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WHy bother tracing a ring? Just cut a larger
> square disk and sandwich it in between rings, once
> you sand it down it's perfect and nobody knows.
> MUCH easier than trying to align everything
> perfectly when you glue it all up. CEnter hole,
> doesn't need to be perfect, I cut an X, then cut
> the flaps off after I glue it on one side of the
> cork (or EVA).
>
> TEHre's 2 ways to do this, one way takes longer is
> harder to do, and you can mess it up if not
> careful. THE other way is quicker and you'll NEVER
> have a problem.
>
> NERBS - North East Rod Builders



yea billy, ur right here, a lot easier. What ill do is, after everything is glued up, ill cut the foam flush with the rings and than turn em, works great. I do the same with wood veneer.


"There is a principle which is a bar against all information,which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance--that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
- Herbert Spencer

Billy Vivona Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WHy bother tracing a ring? Just cut a larger
> square disk and sandwich it in between rings, once
> you sand it down it's perfect and nobody knows.
> MUCH easier than trying to align everything
> perfectly when you glue it all up. CEnter hole,
> doesn't need to be perfect, I cut an X, then cut
> the flaps off after I glue it on one side of the
> cork (or EVA).
>
> TEHre's 2 ways to do this, one way takes longer is
> harder to do, and you can mess it up if not
> careful. THE other way is quicker and you'll NEVER
> have a problem.
>
> NERBS - North East Rod Builders



yea billy, ur right here, a lot easier. What ill do is, after everything is glued up, ill cut the foam flush with the rings and than turn em, works great. I do the same with wood veneer.


"There is a principle which is a bar against all information,which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance--that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
- Herbert Spencer