Hello.. I have been turning my own cork handles on a lathe with excellent results. I have been using a 1/4 inch mandrel. I am haveing a heck of a time getting the cork reemed out and keeping the hole centered. I was wondering what all of you did who built handles on a lathe to get the handles mounted up centered on the blank?

Thank You,
Jeremy

i bore the rings to a size just under the rod i am building. turn the handle ,then i only have to ream slightly to get a good fit.

Buy larger mandrels and pre bore the rings like John says to do. Then you only have to do a very small amount of reaming to get the final fit. Andy Dear sells mandrels in about six different sizes.

The Flex Coat spade drill bits have a 1/4" guide on the tip to ensure a straight hole through materials. I use mine quite often and always get a "straight" hole.

DR

Dream Reamer set.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2007 03:16PM by Bill Moschler.

I also use the Flex Cote Guided spade bits, with no problem and minimal reaming. They even sell a jig so you can make your own if they don't have a size you need. The only problem I've actually encountered, is the epoxy that holds the guides on sometimes gets hot and the bond breaks. I solved this problem by using plastic steel.

Bill in WV

Use Flexcoat bit to bore rings close to smallest size where the grip will sit, glue up on a piece of threaded rod and turn/shape on one of Andy's mandrels. Little bit of reaming and ready to go.

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!!