I'd like to try my hand at shaping some handles for a build using Carbon Fiber handles. The Carbon Fiber handle kit will be where I start, but I do not have a cork / EVA turning lathe. My rod wrapper is the most economical single speed (CRB i think). How else might I shape the handle? I'm looking to do some rounding and tapering of the ends. Any cheap lathes out there that I might look into? I have drills, drill press, belt sanders, vibration sanders. Can any of these be rigged to work?

This might give you some ideas:
[www.youtube.com]

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

That carbon handle isn't solid - there will not be much you can do insofar as additional shaping to the handle.

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One can easily and cheaply adapt a drill press to work just fine on stuff like cork and the cores for carbon fiber components.

If there is interest in this send me an email.

If you want to work horizontally, you can clamp a drill into a vise and insert a mandrel into the drill and go to work.

The smoothest, quietest, most secure cheap way to do it is with a drill press. Working with either drill drivers or corded drills somehow restrained just doesn't cut it. Pun intended.

To clarify, I'm looking to shape the foam core... to then glue the carbon fiber over it... then finally to glue it to blank

The foam core shapes very easily. In fact, you have to be careful not to take off too much too quickly. If you do not wish to spring for any sort of lathe, you can certainly make do with a common hand drill, affixed or clamped to a table or vise. Depending on the length of the grip core, you may not even need a V-stand or similar on the outer end of the mandrel. The foam shapes very easily with sandpaper alone.

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Dennis,
While most lathes spin horizontally, your drill press will work until you are able to acquire a formal lathe. But it is dependent on how long the grip is and the capacity of the drill press. I suggest supporting the loose end of the mandrel for both more precision and safety as well. Clamp a piece of .5in to .75in plywood (rigid plastic is even better) in a mill vise (a cheapie Harbor Freight is adequate) and secure the vise to the table with clamps. Drill a hole in the wood / plastic the same size as the mandrel used for the foam core. This becomes your lower “bushing” and is inherently inline with the spindle of the drill press. While it could be considered rather crude, nonetheless it works. Been there, done that.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

take a five gallon plastic bucket and drill a quarter inch hole about one and a half inches down from the top of the lip..chuck a quarter inch all thread rod into your hand drill..attach your foam piece to the rod and insert the rod into the quarter inch hole with the rod running across the bucket and the drill resting on the lip across from the hole..sand away..the bucket will collect all the dust..it,s very portable..lol.

Another example of “crude” working = not bad, Ben.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Instead of relying on a hole in a piece of wood for the lower support of the mandrel in a drill press setup, buy a cheap ball bearing with an ID matching the mandrel OD and inset the bearing into the wood. It will be more solid, accurate, and will last about forever.

Cork, including burl, forms with just sandpaper, too. Start with 60, then 150 or 220, then go higher if you want it smoother.

Thanks Mark..just trying to keep it simple and cheap especially cheap..lol.

Micheal,
You are certainly and obviously correct that a bearing would provide more precision and longevity.
Mine was intended to be a quick, easy, effective (albeit crude) method using things one might already have in their shop. I employed bronze sleeve bushings or even aluminum tubing directly clamped in the mill vise, but not many have an assortment of such stock lying around. But that is all behind me now after upgrading my power wrapper (now lathe) with a bigger motor, 3-jaw chuck, tailstock with live center, tool rest, and even vacuum dust control = best investment I’ve made for wrapping rods!!!
Ben,
I can certainly relate to that!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.