I am trying to upgrade my rod bench to a more sophisticated grip (cork and EVA) lathe than my current electric drill on a stand set-up. Th drill set-up does not have the control that I am looking for. CRB has a set-up that is too pricey for me. I am good at building things (not a machinist by a long shot) and think I could build something that could work better than what I have now. I do have a c
Forum: rodboard

Hello rodbuilding community, I’m building my first rods for me and my grandpa, and I picked up a few of the iconoglass blanks from North Fork Composites while they had the sale going. My grandpa lost my grandma after 70 years of marriage last year, and Christmas is an especially hard time for him. She was the matriarch and took care of everything. I live in Europe now, and I haven’t been a
Forum: rodboard

Been building for couple years now and love learning new ideas to implement on my rods. I build primarily bass and light freshwater fishing rods. I want to order some rodmaker magazines back issues with focus on eva grip designs / inlays, maybe other grip ideas though i don't have access to a dedicated lathe yet. Would the Special CD edition on grips (https://www.rodmakermagazine.com/pro
Forum: rodboard

I'm working on handle options for a couple ice rods I'm working on. I wanted to use a composite reel seat but all the arbor options I'm finding are pre-drilled too large. I prefer not to use tape as I feel it ends up dampening the feel of the rod. So here's my question, has anyone ever experimented with filling the space with a rigid closed cell expanding polyurethane foam? I've seen pre-made
Forum: rodboard

Any recs on where to buy cork handles? On my last build I had epoxy seap through small cracks in my handle. Thanks. Gary
Forum: rodboard

Acquired an older Atlas/Craftsman 7122 Lathe. The headstock is 1"x10tpi which is a very unique size and hard to find. Most likely I'll need an adapter. What chuck is recommended for turning grips/handles? I'm new to the chuck game and I see there are metal chucks and woodturning chucks. Is one better than the other? Are 4 jays better than 3 jaws? any particular jaw style bett
Forum: rodboard

As the title suggests, what lathe tool minimizes damage to cork while turning? Along the same milling vein, what turning speed seems to produce the best results? While realizing such a soft and inconsistent material as cork will always be prone to shredding and ripping chunks out while turning, there must be a specific tool which works better than all the others. Having limited experience, I am r
Forum: rodboard

So I posted a few weeks ago i bought a Wen 3424T wood lathe so I could start making my own cork handles. Bought the tailstock live center and a drill chuck, tried putting the 18" x 1/4" mandrel in that setup and its too long. I also purchased a Nova G3 chuck, Nova mini spigot jaw set which came today, put that on the lathe and it wont tighten down to 1/4", so that doesnt work eithe
Forum: rodboard

Mr. Kirkman, what type of chuck is on your lathe in the cork turning video that you did on youtube, I have been trying to find one that I can clamp a 1/4 mandrel up with. I just purchased a Wen 3424T and have a live center and a drill chuck on the way, but would like something with 4 self centering jaws that will hold small round items, such as a mandrel or the cork grip itself. Everything I see
Forum: rodboard

So I just bought a Wen 3424T lathe to turn cork handles. I have searched on here and watched Tom's youtube video. My question is for the surform plane, it looks like Tom is just using the blade of the plane alone, without the form. How do you get the handle concentric without using a rest or something to gauge a straight line. I have never done woodworking on a lathe so excuse my lack of knowledg
Forum: rodboard

So how does this work, I tried putting a reamer in the jaws of the chuck( the upgraded one) and there is no way that is going to work, no support what so ever on the reamer. I dont have the steel mandrels yet, ordered that and the live tailstock but wondering does anyone have one of these that they use for turning cork. I am wondering if I would be better off with a wood lathe from like harbor fr
Forum: rodboard

I’m looking at getting the Renzetti Craftsman Rod Lathe. I see they offer a Motor for this ,but it is not as versatile as the one in Rodmaker Magazine V3#3 which is variable speed/reversible and can slow down to a speed that can be used for drying. Does anyone know of an equivalent motor/controller to this? I also am aware of the drying attachment article in V16#1 to add a separate drying motor,
Forum: rodboard

Can the motor/chuck be switched to the right end of the track and still have the thread carriage in the front? I'm left handing and wrap from right to left. Thanks
Forum: rodboard

I was looking to pickup a 3 jaw chuck for my Wen 3420 lathe. Can I get a chuck that will fit this lathe, and where should I go to find one?
Forum: rodboard

Hello All Rod Builders I recently got back into building rods again. I was using my Turncrafter Pro#TCLPRO sanding down eva grip then suddenly my mandrel got loose from the chuck at high speed. Luckily I acted fast and turn it off. Try it a second and third time ,same issue. Soo dangerous. The chuck I have on the lathe is the same kind Renzetti uses on there power wrapper. Not a good chuck f
Forum: rodboard

Hey guys new builder here and first post but I have been following along for awhile and enjoy all the helpful information on this page. My question is I am wanting to get into building cork grips on my lathe , I’m hoping someone can dumb it down for me on exactly what I need in regards to my chuck. I have a jet 1221vs but what chuck do y’all recommend for turning cork on the mud hole mandrels an
Forum: rodboard

Does anyone know if the Batson Alps lathe mandrels are threaded on one end? Not at clear from any of the product information I can find.
Forum: rodboard

Hey Guys, Looking for some a advise on which is the best glue to use when making a custom cork handle with burl cork. I am new to this part of custom rod building but want to expand on my builds. I purchased a bench top lathe and have my burl cork. I have watched quite a few YouTube vidies but would like your opinions on which glue you like to use and why. Pro - Cons. I have purchased Elmer's Wo
Forum: rodboard

Hello, I'm really getting into rodbuilding and repair, mostly for myself and building for friends and family. I think I've done around 15 or so I'm very happy with and the first 4 or so not so much early on but they are usable and structurally sound! I build mostly lighter, medium, and heavier inshore use rods, not trolling yet but mostly bottom fishing and plugging (and I really won't build a
Forum: rodboard

I was just chatting with my brother who is an excellent avid wood worker as well as a master of lathe work. His speciality is turning bowels of all shapes and sized of various woods. He demonstrated the new dust and debris containment that he had just installed in his shop. He picked up a series of hanging rails to hang in his shop. On the inside of the rails, he installed a trolly of
Forum: rodboard

Hey guys/gals, I had a difficult time finding anything about this so I’m posting it here in the hopes that someone here can help me. I’ve been working on a DIY power rod wrapper using an old sewing machine motor and miscellaneous parts I have lying around the shop. I know I need to slow the motor down using pulleys and a reduction ratio but I’ve had a @#$%& of a time finding suitable pulleys o
Forum: rodboard

Happy New Year to all! Roger Wilson recently helped me with the electrical aspect to upgrade my self-built power wrapper to a power wrapper PLUS LATHE as well. It turned out exceptionally well and I am happier than a pig in slop!!! Thanks again, Roger! For those of you who use a lathe to turn grips in general, cork in particular, what is the most invaluable turning/shaping tool you use? Tom K.’
Forum: rodboard

I ran into Morris Schlesinger this past Saturday at a local woodworking event. The injury that prevented him from attending and presenting at the 2019 Expo is completely healed and he is making preparations to present several seminars and demonstrations at the upcoming 2020 Expo in February. In addition to his usual, day-long ongoing, hands-on demos, he will be presenting on the following topics:
Forum: rodboard

I was making a new machine yesterday. I was using my lathe to machine down some parts for the rod building machine. I was using sand paper to clean up a part with the lathe turning at 4000 rpm. While, I was using the lathe, the tip of my glove got caught between the sandpaper and the work that I was turning. Suddenly the rod and my hand became twisted around the work piece. Fortunate
Forum: rodboard

I'm planning on buying a mini wood lathe on Amazon, I would like to stay under $500. For that price range what brand or what are you guys using out there?
Forum: rodboard

This post is to serve two purposes; 1.) Offer my rod wrapper powerhead for sale to someone in need, and 2.) Admittedly show off a bit with my new powerhead, chuck and live center fabricated to fit my existing self-built rod wrapper of which I am quite proud. Please find photos under Equipment and Tools, Mark’s Wrapper Upgrade. The old powerhead has served me well since I started wrapping 4 years
Forum: rodboard

Hello all! I have been trying my hand at Carbon fiber grip making. 1. Measure, cut, form foam core - NO PROBLEM 2. Wet out foam core, put on the carbon sleeve, wet out - NO PROBLEM 3. Add additional coats of the same epoxy (aeromarine #300 with aeromarine #21 hardener - BIG PROBLEM!!! When I add additional coats I start getting what I will call - craters. I don’t touch the grip after the
Forum: rodboard

I have a newly built rod that the grip is too thick in diameter for me and I'm wondering if there is a way to reduce it without having to redo the entire grip, seat, butt section . Keep in mind I dont have a lathe and I have never turned a grip before . I dont have a power wrapper and my dryer motors are only 9 and 18 rpm . Any ideas are appreciated . As always , TIA .
Forum: rodboard

So we are re-setting up the shop and looking at new ways to do things. What do you guys use for dust collection on reaming cork grips? Some of these are 15"-16" long musky grips. Am considering going to a pair of shop vacs properly set in place of the larger dust collector, as it's needing some money put into it, and it's so big and bulky. We build quite a few rods, so a nice set
Forum: rodboard

For fiberglass fly rods . I'm looking for a black skeletonized reel seat with a nice orange ish color insert aluminum or wood with an id of 0.55 or so . I'd rather not use a stint as it makes the rod about 4" longer and it wont fit the case I bought for it . I know I can cut it but I dont want to do that either . As always , TIA !
Forum: rodboard