Ok, here's my question - I have a 3/8" mandrel that I originally had a local machinist make for me as a regular cork mandrel. I threaded one end and bought brass spacers to be able to use it for wood grips and reelseats - it's identical to Andy's wood mandrels. I also have a penturners mandrel, which is 1/4" in diameter. So here's my question: for you wood grip guys, how do you finalize the fit of the grip, or even the reelseat, to the blank? For example, I turned a spinning reelseat today out of some nice big leaf maple burl. First, I bored the blank on the lathe with a 3/8 bit, then placed it on my 3/8" mandrel. Worked great, and I got a nice reelseat out of it - of course, it is not quite large enough to get to where I want it on the blank, so some additional reaming is required. Has anyone used the Dream Reamer to ream wood? How does it work? Are there any additional tips you have to get that final fit? I'm kicking around using my penmakers mandrel and buying the jig to make the flexcoat arbor bits. That way I could bore all my grips/seats at 1/4", turn them on the penmakers mandrel ( I won't be making long wood grips - too much weight, they will all be split grip), then use the FC bit to bore to a close size. But then I'm still stuck with the issue of the handle or seat being either a little too small or a little too big - I'm also worried about tearout at the ends... I hate a little too big - more epoxy, more weight. Any suggestions or ideas?

Sorry for the rambling, been a long week, and I'm tired!!!

Thanks!

I do mine the same way. Bore to 3/8" put on Andy's threaded mandrel and turn. I then chuck up a reamer (I now use Dream reamers but have used numerous others. Even rat tail files), insert the drill into a vise with the reamer pointing straight up and SLOWLY lower and raise (to clear out the sawdust) the grip over the reamer. If I know I need it fairly large, I bore to 1/2" and use 1/2" mandrel, then ream

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!!

If I can't get an exact fit, I drll them oversized then use a couple of foam arbors glued into the reel seat. Then it's real easy to ream out the arbor to fit the blank.

I find the Dream Reamer works a treat for wood handles, but like Mike says, I do it SLOWLY, and frequently clear the dust from the reamer, trying not to get the sandpaper too hot , and with abit of patience, one can get a good fit.

I countersunk the ends of the 3 largest Dream Reamers so I could chuck them up in my wood lathe for power reaming and it works great. I even ream graphite reel seats. Jesse

Thanks guys, guess I just HAVE to buy the Dream Reamers :-) I'm thinking about the 1/2" mandrel too - will probably buy one of Andy's or make a couple of my own. Lance - I'm going to be trying the FC arbor method too, great way to save some weight in the process. Do you turn them on a 1/4" mandrel then bore them to fit the arbor after you turn them?

Rich- You do HAVE to buy the dream reamer. I used to hand ream my grips until I got the dream reamer. I don't know how I survived without I used to hate fitting grips now it is quick and fun. Power tools just make life better. They work great but they are made of glass so heat is a problem.