I have a hard time keeping my grips centered while reaming them. I have a set of hand reamers tried it that way then used the reamer on a power drill was faster but couldn't keep it centered . How does everybody else do it right what is the secret

I am a NEWBE but don't have a problem I use the set of fiberglass rodes with the corksreeew grit paper on them start with the small one an work up to the size I need [use a varriable speed drill going CW] when I get close to the size I change to the fiber glass hollow rodes that has grit an glue on it an finish it by hand, not perfect but will do the job , that is for cork grips never worked on the EVA type
Bill



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2012 11:22PM by william sidney.

i ream first, then turn down my grips. they are always true to center that way. if you are using pre-fab grips, just go slow.

Regards,
-Justin

Are you trying to ream them holding the reamer on the drill horizontal? I had a a problem with it once and put the drill on a table with the reamer sticking up. I did a few times when I was hand reaming them until I started turning the grip with the reamer. I was just turning the reamer by hand and applying force and causing it to dig to one side. And like Justin said, go slow and take your time, don't force it.

A I use both the dream reamer and home made reamers made from blank pieces covered with grit. I found the taper of the dream reamers too steep for cork grips. As I ream the grip, I turn the grip in my hand so that I am not holding it one way during the reaming. Ream ream, turn. Ream ream, turn. Ream ream, turn. It works for me.

Greg

justin keithley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i ream first, then turn down my grips. they are
> always true to center that way. if you are using
> pre-fab grips, just go slow.


X2, I'm glad someone else does the same as I do. Pretty much foolproof., I hate ruining good cork.

I had that problem, and found I was pushing too hard to get the reamer in. Go slow and let the rotation of the reamer remove material and work its way in. Even under power it is important to go slowly, rotate the grip and not push it too hard. That way you can check your fit before you go too far. I check quite often, cleaning the grip out with a bottle brush every time i stop.

David,
Another hint that I learned a long time ago.
I only power ream with circular metal files chucked into a variable speed drill running back wards.
I always wear a cloth glove on the hand that is holding the grip. As I ream, I let the grip slip in my hand a bit from time to time as I ream. I keep the glove on my hand to keep the friction from the turning grip burn my hand.

By letting the grip rotate a bit as I ream, any out of round reaming can easily be felt in the hand, and stopped right away before it becomes a problem. If you let the grip spin for a second on the rotating file, it is instantly apparent if there is any off center reaming going on that needs correcting.

I do the same thing when reaming cork rings. i.e. holding the ring in my gloved hand and reaming with the file. Then, letting the ring slip if necessary to correct any out of center condition.

Take care
Roger

i tried the rat tail file method by hand and by drill, but never had much luck .. short of reaming individual rings to fit on the blank and shaping it on the blank, i now use a round rasp to 'ream' the bore of the cork grip (if i built it on a mandrel). the diameter of the rasp is slightly larger than 0.25in and it will remove cork quite fast, so I normally use it if I have to remove a fair bit of cork to fit the blank. since it has teeth, you don't need to use too much effort when reaming.

takes me less than 5 mins to ream from 0.25in to 0.3+in, and that includes dry fitting a few times, and blowing out the dust from the bore...

-
Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day..
Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke!

Christopher,
Another way to quickly size a handle to a blank is as follows. Use the reamer of your choice to ream the butt of the handle for a perfect fit on the blank, and use a reamer on the tip of the handle for a perfect fit on the blank at its location.

Then, take a long drill bit this is about the size of the nice fitting hole in the butt of the handle and drill the handle 1/2 way through.
Then, take a long drill bit that is about the size of the nice fitting hole in the tip of the handle and drill the hanadle 1/2 way through.

With most blank tapers, this technique will give you a nice fitting handle in just a couple of minutes.

Roger