Hi all I just got a new mini lathe and am wondering what you use to hold corkand foam grips while you turn. This is my first exposer to lathes since shop back in high school. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time
Paul

Paul@soonercustomrod.com

You need to talk with Andy Dear and get his video (Lamar on the left)

Most use a mandrel system, either solid rods with the cork rings glued up on and the rod goes into a chuck on one end and onto a live center on the other end. Basically you ream out the cork rings to fit on the mandrel. You put some wax on the mandrell so the finished handle piece can be easily taken off. Glue up the rings on the mandrel using Rod Bond or a wood glue like Titebond II or III. Then the handle is put into a clamp to compress the rings together till it sets up. Then the mandrel can be put onto the lathe. The other mandrel system out there is what Andy Dear has and it is a threaded rod setup to hold the cork on the mandrel while the glue is drying and for turning. Actually Andy has both types of mandrel sets to purchase.

You will need a Jacobs chuck for the head stock end of the lathe and a live center for the tail stock end..
As Mike says use one of andy's mandrels, I glue up my handles on a threaded rod covered with wax and clamp with nuts & washers. When dry I transfer it to one of Andy's cork turning mandrels, the glue that seeps into the center locks the handle to the mandrel for turning. I chuck the mandrel into a cordless drill to install the handle onto it. Slowly turn the drill while pushing the handle onto the mandrel. I then install into my lathe for turning. To remove the handle I use the same technique as for installing onto the mandrel. The purpose of Andy's threaded mandres is for turning wooden handles and seats, but they should also work for cork. They are twice the price of the cork mandrels though. I have one on order and am anxiously awaiting it from the guys at Fishsticks4u hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. LOL

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

Paul if you got the midi lathe without the extended bed you will need to contact one of Andy's suippliers and request that the mandrels be cut to fit the midi lathe if you have the extended bed you can use the full size mandrels with a chuck and live tail stock
John

Dave who has the cork mandrels?

Paul@soonercustomrod.com

Paul
Fishsticks4U have both.
You need to pick the size you want. I just use the 1/4" because the cork I buy has 1/4" holes & I dont feel like drilling or reaming to fit on the mandrel.

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

Paul, You may want to look at the Lamar link on the left hand side of the board. I think he has his distributors listed, if not I know that Bingham and Fishsticks4U are distributors for Andy. I use a threaded mandrel on a midi lathe with out the extension but have a 4 jaw chuck that will let the mandrels slip inside the headstock and only use the length of the mandrel that is needed. The longer or more extended the mandrels are the more chance you have of the work piece whipping or turning out of round. I think that you will like this new hobby and you can do more than just handles, I like to turn pens and have been looking into other turnings as well. Good luck if you need help please feel free to e/mail me. Mark

Angler's Workshop handles the mandrels as well.


Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing

You all talk about using wax on your mandrels to keep the product from sticking to the mandrell, what kind of wax are you using?

Paraffin.

..........

If you use a 3 jaw chuck (instead of the jacobs chuck) you should have enough room on a Delta Midi to use the mandrels without having them cut.

Steve,

It would depend on the length of handle you are going to make. If most are short, then letting the madrel slip through the chuck is not a problem and you would not need to cut the mandrels. But if you want to make a longer handle, thats where you would have problems without having the bed extension.