I'm looking for a cork vise for my drill press; I saw one a while back that had a spring tensioner. Any idea where I can find one or a few details to make my own?

Thanks,

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

Plans were in RodMaker Volume 1 #5, but that issue has been sold out for a long time.

There is a photo of that clamp in the photo page under my name. You might could go by the photo to make up something for yourself.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I believe this is probably what you're talking about. It allows for hands free drilling - you never have to turn the drill press off, it centers the ring and can bore about 200 to 300 rings per hour with it.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2009 08:48AM by Tom Kirkman.

I tried a jig but I have settled on using a pen blank drilling vise because the cork is automatically centered. I do about 4 or 5 at a time that way. It is slower and requires some fiddling around and would not be a large or fast production method.

I use a Flex Coat self centering bit in a small table top drill press and just manually run the cork ring up the bit. The 1/4" pilot tube on the spade bit keeps the rings self centered and no jig can come close to keeping up with it. I can bore 50 rings to 3/8" in a matter of miutes

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!!

Check with Scott Parsons at Scott's Custom Rods. He also owns Fishsticks. I got one from him several weeks ago.

Thanks for the replies!

Tom I realize that the that the issue that contained the article is no longer in stock, I'd be willing to pay for just the article if it's an option.

Thanks again!!

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

Walt,
I know of no drill bit that does a reallynice job of boring out the center hole of a cork ring. If you don't mind some ripping of the edges, then some of the various drill bits can work all right.

I would rather simply use a tapered file in reverse to hold the rings. By holding the ring in a gloved hand and running the dirll backward, the hold is very clean, with no ripped edges. By holding the ring in a cloth gloved hand, the ring will self center and can easily have the hole centered.

I have tried using files held in a stationary drill and then press the cork ring onto the file to drill, but I find that to be very ackward and difficult to control.
Rather, I use a 3/8th variable speed drill for smaller files and a 1/2 inch variable speed drill for the larger files. I simply hold the ring over my vacuum inlet and quickly bore out the rings. Clean, easy and no jigs required.

Take care
Roger

After doing countless rings, I find using a Flexcoat bit and hand boring to be the quickest,straightest method with very clean straight bores edges. I just posted a pic of my method
[www.rodbuilding.org]

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!!

Walt,

Let me see if I can find the plans. I thought I had put them on the photo page along with the photo but maybe not. I'm sure I can get you the plans though.

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Walt :
If you email me your address I 'll send you the planes.My email is not hidden.I tried emailing you twise but it came back .
I don't know how to copy them and then emailing them.I'm for sure not the brightest color in the box when it comes to computers. Sorry! <<<< DON >>>>