I have built several very nice fly, and spinning rods. I always purchase the components separately, including the cork grips. The inner bore is always too small to fit the blank. I use a rat tail file to shape the bore to fit snugly, and use tape arbors, and epoxy paste to fit and glue everything together. The tape arbors take care of any inconsistencies in my filing. The results have been very good. My problem is that this method, though effective, isn't ideal, and is very time consuming. I do have an Alps Power Wrapper. Is there a faster, more accurate way to make the inner bore fit the blank taper? it would sure speed up my rod building if there is.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

There are reamers made for the purpose available from most of the suppliers on the left. They can be used either by hand or chucked in a hand drill for power.

Why the need for speed?

I say slow down and enjoy the process.

I agree with Joel..what,s the hurry..I like the way your doing it now.

I have to admit, it's a labor of love. And there that feeling of accomplishment when you look at ahigh quality rod and can say - "i did that!" Also, I save the cork dust in a little plastic zipper bag, just in case I gouge a divot in my cork handle while fishing. A bit of super glue, cork dust, and it looks as good as new, or so it's supposed to. I haven't had to repair any divots yet.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

LOL....why the need for speed? Because time is valuable....:)

A piece of a broken rod blank with a 1" strip of 120 grit sandpaper glued in an open spiral around it with enough bare blank left for a handle. Then about 5 minutes of sanding-reaming to bore-out and fit the the grip.

One problem with reamers is the tendency for the bore to wander out of concentricity as the grip is reamed. It helps to wear gloves when using a drill driver for power and let the grip spin a little as the reaming progresses. And ream a little, then check, ream a little more, check again. And again. . . .

I like the Dream Reamer with its "chuckable" fitting on the end. I haven't figured out how to get that feature on a home-made one.

Time spent for our pleasure is what,s of value..lol.

[mudhole.com]

These are great for getting your bore closer to the diameter of the blank for cork grips. Of course the diameter of the blank you're using is going to determine which size, and whether or not you can use them. But they have saved me a lot of time reaming, for the grips I've built

You can really mess up, even ruin a cork grip in a couple of seconds when you use a motor-powered reamer, whereas you have to keep doing the wrong thing for a couple of minutes with a hand-powered reamer to ruin a cork grip. I imagine purveyors of cork grips will gladly sell rod-builders powerful electric reamers which will shorten the rod-building process by minutes or extend the process until either the rod blank is shimmed out to fit the oversized hole in the grip - or the replacement cork grip arrives.

I’m with Phil as well. I’ve tried power reaming with my drill and have ruined some grips that I was really proud of. I’m not saying for you to not power ream because you may have better luck at it than I have, but for now I’ve learned to just enjoy reaming by hand.

I clamp an electric drill in a vice horizontally and upside down and "sneak" up on the correct bore size. One hand on the drill switch and the other holding the grip. I let the grip rotate in my hand a little while varying the rpms on the drill. You can apply more down force pressure on the grip when needed to ensure the bore holes on each end remain in the center. So far, so good.

I find that I have more control keeping a cork grip concentric while remaining under power than by hand = to each his own. What works for one may not for another. One way or the other, when discovering what works for each individual, KEEP WITH IT!!!

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

I have found that the best way to keep the hole centered when reaming is not to force it, take your time, and keep the handle turning. As others have mentioned, when power reaming it is very important to let the handle slip in your hand and use a soft touch. This frequent repositioning of the grip help keeps the hole centered. If you grab the handle firmly and not let it rotate while reaming, it is almost a guarantee that the hole will be off center and not concentric. This is also true when hand reaming; keep the handle turning while reaming.
Norm

Definitely agree that frequent / constant repositioning of one’s grip (or should I say hold) helps immensely to keep the hole concentric. Of course, going slowly and checking often certainly aids as well. Even so, it is pretty difficult to keep a PERFECTLY concentric hole and in the grand scheme of things, being off a tad is undetectable to all but the most critical. If a perfectly concentric grip is paramount, the best method is to bond the pieces onto the butt of the blank, insert the small end through the spindle bore of the headstock of a lathe and chuck the blank close to the front of handle with a dead-center in the butt end. But some provision to keep the small end of the blank from whipping while turning at speed MUST be taken.
[www.rodbuilding.org]

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

I use a battery powered drill and and have a set of the Batson Dream Reamers. Ream a little while changing your grip to let spin on another orientation, then check making sure not to over ream and keep the hole centered. I also have a the longer reamer that is about 5' in length. I make most all of my own grips and EVA and cork will work with this. You can get real good with this method after doing it a while.

[flexcoat.com]

Even if the grip is not concentric with the blank, if the rod components are securely attached the rod will cast in the same direction. A competent caster will quickly adjust and compensate to the rod's point of aim. The world's best rod builder can't make a poor caster into a good one.

Phil? Will your nonsense never cease?