Why use the Renzitti for cork turning?
Why not use a lathe that has the power and set up to take care of this with no problem.

Otherwise, use a 1/3 or 1/2 hp electric motor to spin the rod.

Several folks that I know - including myself use either 1750 rpm or 3600 rpm 1/4, 1/3, or 1/2 hp motors to spin their blanks when turning handles on the blank.

I use a 1/2 hp 3600 rpm buffer motor with a 1/2 - 20 keyless chuck mounted on the end of the motor. I chuck in a solid piece of fiberglass, or steel rod, insert it into the end of the blank, mount the blank in the lathe ball bearing steady rests, and go to work shaping the handle. The motor runs as cool as can be for as long and as many rods as necessary.

Turning and sanding cork is tough work. Especially, when you cut through the glue line on a glued up cork handle, the lathe gets a work out. Use a motor that is properly sized to handle the load.

Your experience dictates that the motor is not sized correctly to handle the loads that you are imposing on the lathe.

Another thing - by using the chuck mounted directly on the end of the motor, you eliminate all of the belts, all of the extra bearings, and any extra noise. Also, it is a very simple setup.

If you have any questions, drop me an e-mail --- hflier@comcast.net

Take care
Roger

Thanks for the suggestions. I knew I should have bought the extended warranty with the last motor I but, like usual, I took the cheap way out and it cost me more money now, which is the same reason I'm not opting to drop the $180 on the motor Renzetti sells.

Roger, are you rigging the motor to the head stock or going straight to the blank. Also I would think that sliding a blank over a metal rod would not give enough resistance for turning.

I'm guessing I've wrapped some 2 thousand rods on mine, repaired (wrapped 1 or 2 guides) on another 20,000 rods, turned hundreds and hundreds of cork and EVA grips, and all on the same motor.

I know at least 5 other rod builders close by that have also been using their Renzetti's for the last 10 to 15 years and not a one to my knowledge has yet to have to replace a motor.

Something is wrong here, just not sure what it is. I do know that the pulleys in the photo provided are different than what was supplied up until a few years ago.


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