Heya :). I am building my 2nd ever rod and I realized a 15.5" cork was too long for my liking. So, I cut 2 inches off the son B. Beautiful work, I know :P (sarcasm). So I live in an apartment and have zero access to power tools or a lathe of any sorts. Digging around some forum posts I see a few people mention that you can use sand paper and shape the cork slowly by hand.

I was hoping some people with a bit of experience could tell me the easiest way for me to do this? Ie: What to do/what grit sand papers could I buy (Hopefully the least amount of different grits possible, as it would be probably one time use). Thanks!

You have a very tough wish list but not impossible.

The minimum items would be

Emery 150 180 320

Mandrel, steel or threaded rod

Plastic wire ties

Duct tape

Power hand drill preferably cordless.

You could try to borrow a drill from a friend or neighbor or you can get one from a discount store under $20.00

Mount the cork on the mandrel, chuck it in the drill. Find a place inside or out side where you could mount the drill, such as a guard rail, fence etc,and wire tie and duct tape the drill in place. Wire tie the trigger "ON" and sand away.

Another idea is to ask the apartment office if there is an on site maintenance or community room where you might be able to work.

Good Luck and Have fun

I also live in an apartment. I just but the sandpaper on the kitchen counter, and sand in a circular motion. Keep checking to square it up.

I shaped a handle with some sand paper and using my hands. It can be done. It must be done slowly and carefully, but it can be accomplished. I live in an apartment, too, and did this outside in the summer. I do know powered sanding of any kind in my apartment, but I've built about 20 fly and several spinning rods.

Thanks for the replies!

Bruce Tomaselli Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I shaped a handle with some sand paper and using
> my hands. It can be done. It must be done slowly
> and carefully, but it can be accomplished. I live
> in an apartment, too, and did this outside in the
> summer. I do know powered sanding of any kind in
> my apartment, but I've built about 20 fly and
> several spinning rods.

What sand paper grits did you use?

Aaron, Tape down a full sheet of 220 sandpaper to a flat surface. Mask off your reelseat edge. With a pencil, mark 8 (eight) equal spaced lines from end to end (like a pizza) begin sanding those lines off until you reach the level of your reelseat, then begin sanding the high spots between the marked areas to the same level.Go lightly as you can quickly destroy your grip if you over do it. You have to have a lite touch and count your strokes ( like sharpening a knife). Once you get it down to size you can cup a 1/4 sheet in your hand and do a final rounding sanding. GO SLOW AND EASY.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Assuming you don't have power tools this is an easy way to sand and get good square end. Tape your cork to anything that has a perfect 90 -degree end. It could be something as simple as a old soup can or block of wood, whatever. The point is it will give more stability to the sanding process than just the diameter of the cork. As said above tape some 150 then 220 grit sandpaper to the counter and sand away. Just be sure that your cork grip is perfectly down the center of the can or old jar whatever. It will work and you can fine tune if you need to.

Tom

Thank you so much for all your replies. I will get on this over the next couple days :).

Aaron,
Do yourself a favor and get yourself some "Wet or Dry" sandpaper. MMM is good - but any will do.

Herb

The simplest way to do it....(not for the pros) would be a multi grit sanding block. Sand the cut end in a circular motion until it is flat then chamfer the edges till you get it where you want it. Should be good for your purposes.