I would like to turn my own grips but the price of a mini lathe or a Pac Bay wrapper set up for turning would buy a lot of pre shaped grips. So, that my dilemma what to do? Most of the pre formed grips that I have bought have not been of the best quality. I spent around $30 for the fly rod grips. I don't make that many rods but it would be fun to make a rod with grips that I have turned myself. Bill

Bill,
If you want to turn your own grips for very little money, simply mount a variable speed drill in a horizontal position.

Put a mandrel into the drill. Mount a mandral support at the end of the mandral.

Thread a handle onto the mandral that you have glued up and want to turn. Enjoy.

This is a picture of an inexpensive handle turning device that I obtained from some one else some time ago.



[www.rodbuilding.org]

Roger

Turning grips is NOT a cost-savings, by any means. In respect to quality, you can actually purchase better natural grips than you can build - at least at prices most can afford. Really nice CG1 rings are going for $3.00 plus ... meaning a 7" CG1 flygrip will run $42.00 plus freight and expenses (glue, sandpaper, etc.).

IF you will have plenty of fun doing it, save up and buy yourself the necessary tools. Do bear in mind that the lathe is generally LESS than 1/2 the total expense to turn grips.

Jim -



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2010 07:41PM by Jim Gamble.

p.s.
You don't have to buy a new lathe.
Check out the @#$%& sites, check out your local pawn shops, used tool shops, check craigs list, check your local newspaper for Lathes.

You can often find a lathe that will work very very well for rod building for very little money.

---------------
Another good source for making your own lathe is a simple used fractional hp motor. Often you see old dryers or washing machines sitting on the curb to be picked up. Many times the motors in these appliances are just fine.
If your arbor adapter has 1/2X20 threads on the end, a standard 1/2 inch drill chuck will screw oln the arbor adapter very nicely.

Just bolt the motor down to a mounting surface, wire up the motor through a switch, put a chuck adapter on the end of the motor and screw on a common drill chuck. Then, place a mandral support down the board from the chuck and you are ready to go.

For rod handle turning in general, you really don't need a tool rest or anything more fancy. A tool rest is nice, if your handle is very badly out of round, but its need can be reduced if you do your initial shaping with very stiff coarse sandpaper. The handheld stiff paper will tend to stablilze and round your rough handle glue ups.

Take care
REW

I have to agree that it is not a cost savings but it will be custom if you get one. I got one on the cheap side and spent more for tools and excessiers than i did on the lathe. I just Love doing turning grips and inserts. If you can get a lathe you should have a ball with it.

Paul@soonercustomrod.com

For me, turning allows me sizes and shapes that are not available commercially.

...........

All about different lengths, diameters, inlays (EVA, hypalon, wood, acrylic, cork, burl cork, checkerboards). And it isn't only about handle assemblies - reel seat inserts for one. Also as noted above it isn't necessary to purchase a brand new, ready-made lathe there are plenty of other options.

look here
[www.rodbuilding.org]

or [www.adjustableclamp.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2010 09:55PM by Barry Thomas Sr.

Another one copied from the Flex Coat lath : [www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com

You can get a grizzly hobbly lathe for use with an electric drill for about $50. This setup comes with a live center for SS mandrels that the sponsors here sell.

If you're going to build enough grips, it's worth it. Plus, you can abandon the standard materials you've been accustomed to settling for and use materials that will outlast standard cork/eva and look and feel a helluva lot better.

Strong opinion here, but you might want to ask yourself first - if all you want to do is replicate what's already available, then why build at all?

Bill,
Sorry to chime in late here but, I had the same thoughts as you. Then I realised that I could not buy exactly what I wanted and was always compromising for "off the shelf" availability so therefore, the decision to buy a lathe was much easier. I also use it for polishing, squaring up etc. They have many uses other than just grip turning.
Take the plunge and get a lathe. It wil also bring out your creative side!!
Cheers
Çhris

I needed some thing because of limited space and so I looked at a lot of different pieces of equipment. Mine is a wrapper, lath, and dryer. I just slide the components on to use it for what I need.

Bill - willierods.com

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill,
> If you want to turn your own grips for very little
> money, simply mount a variable speed drill in a
> horizontal position.
>
> Put a mandrel into the drill. Mount a mandral
> support at the end of the mandral.
>
> Thread a handle onto the mandral that you have
> glued up and want to turn. Enjoy.
>
> This is a picture of an inexpensive handle turning
> device that I obtained from some one else some
> time ago.
>
>
>
> [www.rodbuilding.org]
> /photo/9330/title/crude-portable-lathe/cat/508
>
> Roger


Ditto .... I built 50 to 60 rods with the "drill system" for my handles. I would still use it except I now have 2 lathes, a ShopSmith & a mini.

I am in the process of building a hand wrapper, about 1/2 way done, just have to screw it up ( I guess I should have said "screw it together") lol....
I will be making a dryer box next, then I will make a Power Wrapper, I have an old sewing machine sitting in the " to the dump pile" so there is the motor for the wrapper.

Good luck Bill. If you want to turn your own handles try the drill first, If you don't like it then you will know at little to no cost.
Like others said check Pawn shops or the local Craigs List (am I allowed to say that?)
If you know a woodworker that has a lathe might be able to try his lathe, or barter a rod for the use of his lathe, or even barter Rod for Lathe....
I will warn you Turning on a lathe is just as addictive as building rods.....

--------------------------------

tom in indy

take a look at the photo page under Equipment and tools. There are a lot of home made that can give you ideas.

Bill - willierods.com