I wanted to know is it ok to cut inches off of EVA? If so, does anyone have any advice or technique they would want to share?

Thanks

Art

I turn the Eva and cut with a blade in clamp grips just be careful

CKR

If you have a lathe, grasp a section of D or E thread between your fingers and holding it taut, bring it down across the spinning EVA like you would a cheese cutter on cheese. It will slice the EVA in a couple seconds.

Failing that, you can wrap a piece of masking tape around the EVA to use as a straightedge, and slice it cleaning with a razor blade.

Allow a little more length than you want the finished grip to be, as there will be some slight compression when you mount it onto the blank. I'd cut it about 1/8th to 3/16th inch longer than the final length I desire.

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Best way....mount the EVA grip on a shaft, spin at high speed, and use a piece of guide wrapping thread to cut it.

Next best if you have none of that....wrap some tape around the grip to create a straight edge where you want to cut and using a sharp razor blade score around that until you cut through. Sand the edge to make it square.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I keep a spool of 10 lb Spectra fishing line to use for pull strings. When I cut eva, I pull off a short length of spectra , chuck the eva in my lathe and use the spectra to cut the eva. Very clean,very even cut.

I hear of Rod Buiilders say the best way to cut eva is to put it on lathe and use fishing line or vice grips with a razo blade.Yes you will cut eva but not safe.The best way to cut eva is with the Marchisella Eva Cutting Jig it will cut eva safer and more accurately.Cuts square round eva and cork.The tool can be made for few dolllars.If you want more Info on the tool rodmaker volume 13 issue 4 or e-mail me billsreelworld@aol.com

I hear of Rod Buiilders say the best way to cut eva is to put it on lathe and use fishing line or vice grips with a razo blade.Yes you will cut eva but not safe.The best way to cut eva is with the Marchisella Eva Cutting Jig it will cut eva safer and more accurately.Cuts square round eva and cork.The tool can be made for few dolllars.If you want more Info on the tool rodmaker volume 13 issue 4 or e-mail me billsreelworld@aol.com

I hear some rod makers say the best way to cut eva is with fishing line or razo blade and vice grips yes you will cut the eva but not safely.The best way to cut eva is with the Marchisella Eva cutting Jig. Cuts square and round eva cork.If you want more Info. Rodmaker Magazine volume 13 issue4 or e-mail me billsreelworld@aol.com

Thanks everyone!! Bill M., I'll just try it with the masking tape and sharp razor blade, but I'll email you if I change my mind. Thanks again!!

Use thread!!!!

For cutting trim rings of equal thickness, I mount the EVA/Hypalon on a scrap blank then cut it with a pair of scalpels that I have clamped together with a spacer between them to achieve the thickness that I want, then while spinning, I run them in much like a lathe tool. I first round square blocks. Works well for me.

If you are going to go the razor blade route, be very careful. There is something about a spinning mandrel and a razor blade that does not sound good. If you are going to be using thread, do not wrap the thread around your fingers for safety purposes.

Hello All.

I use a piece of rather thin wire connected at each end with a wooden handle.

Keep the Ten Together!!

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

You've all seen em, those cheap copeing saw frames made of light metal. Remove the blade that comes with it and replace it with a peice of an old high "E" string from the Martin or Tele that you just restrung. Wrap the string around one end with a haywire twist and then because the frame is so light you can flex the other end to create tension on the string after its wrapped and released. You now have a nifity little EVA knife/saw with a handle.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Take that same saw and add 32lb. stainless leader wire and you have a eva tool that will last long time.

Bill, I had to look up issue 13-4 to see that you had coverted the copeing frame for that same reason. I like he way you strung the leader material,looks very professional. I don't play mine, I just use it to cut EVA.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Dennis,
My original jig was made with a spool of thread attached to it, so when the thread broke, I was able to replace it fast. But, I knew there had to be a better way; that was the stainless steel. It lasts a long time. I still have the original wire on it and I cut a lot of eva. So I do not play mine either!

Looks great Bill, I like the way it attaches to the uprite for cutting. They should come standard on all new Renzitti lathes.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Dennise, You can cut eva fast and accrate. Like slicing bologna with that jig

A quick safety note: For those who want to simply hold monofilament or thread and use a lathe, as Tom stated, hold it between your fingers with the tag ends free.

DO NOT EVER wrap the thread/mono around your fingers or hand. If you do this and it catches you WILL break something on your body pretty severely. 1/2 HP motors spinning at 4000 RPM are rather unforgiving.

Only stating this as I didn't see it mentioned and while I personally think it is common sense, safety cannot be overstated. I have watched how quickly a loose 1/4" mandrel can become a deadly weapon on a lathe with a tailstock that was not set properly. If these things can bend 1/4" solid steel like its not there, I do not care to see what one will do to a careless hand.