Turning a cork grip

wrote in news:lqq7b3t8vtds44jt73alhjh2o4or93evqu@
4ax.com:

If you want to lathe a grip, make a
new one on a mandrel and install it on the rod. Hey, as always, YMMV.



Why would you give up a tight ring-by-ring custom fit?

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

On 6 Aug 2007 12:32:28 GMT, Scott Seidman
wrote:

wrote in news:lqq7b3t8vtds44jt73alhjh2o4or93evqu@
4ax.com:

If you want to lathe a grip, make a
new one on a mandrel and install it on the rod. Hey, as always, YMMV.



Why would you give up a tight ring-by-ring custom fit?

OK...why? Seriously, as far as the exterior finish, I'd offer it is
pretty clear that it would make no difference whatsoever as to where the
cork is sanded - blank or mandrel. As to the rings fitting together,
again, it makes no difference. Now, if the mandrel is larger than the
blank, that would be a problem, but as long as the mandrel is the same
size or slightly smaller to allow for a final rasping, one would not be
able to tell the difference by use or appearance. Some think a mandrel
is the way to go because if there is a tear-/chunk-out or void, you
don't need to remove the "oops" from the blank, plus, you don't risk
damaging the blank or a ferrule in a lathe. Others don't worry about
it. IMO, both ways are equally "correct" as it is simply a matter of
personal choice.

On a grip replacement on a otherwise OK rod, I'd say guess is that most
experienced repairers would choose to go with a mandrel rather than
directly on an otherwise-fine finished butt section, but I don't claim
that I _know_ that. I can say _my_ choice would be a mandrel or by hand.

And as an aside, when I've used "lathe," I mean something set up as a
rod-finishing lathe, not a wood-turning lathe. A rod "lathe" is a
set-up to allow wrapping, grip _sanding_ (you don't finish a grip with
skews, gouges, etc.), "varnish" distribution, etc., and the "average"
wood-turning set-up is, IMO, not a substitute. And for the picky, yes,
I'd agree that one could modify certain wood-turning lathes into
something that would function as a rod lathe...and in only slightly less
time than building a water pipeline from Colorado to Lake Wobegon...

TC,
R

On 6 Aug 2007 12:32:28 GMT, Scott Seidman
wrote:

wrote in news:lqq7b3t8vtds44jt73alhjh2o4or93evqu@
4ax.com:

If you want to lathe a grip, make a
new one on a mandrel and install it on the rod. Hey, as always, YMMV.



Why would you give up a tight ring-by-ring custom fit?

And as a further aside, doing the sanding on a mandrel would allow the
use of simpler, and thus, a wider variety of wood-turning lathes because
speed and chucking/centering/"holding" methods wouldn't be nearly the
issue it would be with a rod section, finished or not.

TC,
R

Anyone have any information they care to share on how to hold that end -
perfectly centered - without breaking it? My first inclination is to bore
a tapered hole in a section of dowel and then cut two slots 90° to each
other to make a compression fit vise and slide the ferrule end into the
slightly tapered hole to hold that end. Not sure how much stress that
would put on the ferrule and maybe crack. I would use non-marring steady
rest to keep things from whipping but I'd be worried about heat build-up
on the rod at that point and what may happen - like permanent damage.

I did manage to get a couple of butt section ends from the Cortland Line
factory store that they use to mount reels to for display but they don't
have any ferrules on them - just a cut off section of the rod that extends
beyond the cork about 5". I would use these to practice on first. Now I
could always take the rod to a pro and have them do it and I just may have
to, but first I'd like to see if I can't do it myself. Fly fishing is
just not about catching fish for me - it's the journey.

Thanks for your input,

Bob S.

Bob,
Can you remove the butt cap of your rod with an alcohol burner? The heat
should loosen the old glue/epoxy. Then insert a small piece of fly rod blank
into the hollow end or your rod until snug leaving 4 or 5 inches protruding.
Chuck up the protruding piece of rod blank into a 3/8 drill motor. Use 100
grit paper to shape your grip then some 220 to smooth/finish it off. You
should be able to "freehand" this task, or use a V-block for support.
Protect your reel seat and forward wraps with masking tape. Its not rocket
science but it works well and is simple to do. Reattach the butt cap with
some 5 minute epoxy.
And, don't burn yourself.

Good luck,
Guy

Appreciate all the input, suggestions and words of wisdom. I won't go into
all the details but I mentioned that I had two butt sections from Cortland
that I could use as test pieces. A wood lathe is not a good choice to use
for working on a new fly rod butt section. Let's just say that if I had
placed my rod in that setup - it would be in pieces. Need a much slower
speed than 350rpm. A motor control (Variac) would be one method to slow this
lathe down but for a one time project....... not worth it.

I'll be making a couple of V blocks with felt in the grooves to hold the rod
while I manually turn and sand the next "test" section down to see how it
turns out. Cork sands better than I was anticipating so I'll play with
various grits but it looks like 100 grit will be the most aggressive then
work up thru 220 for final shaping and finish. If it needs more than that, I
have grits up to 600 but I doubt that I want to polish it....

Has anyone ever seen / handled a Winston rod with the Joan Wulff grip (JWF)
? Winston will send one to the local dealer so my wife can try it out but
I'm wondering what it's like. Can't find a picture and the only description
is a full-wells grip with a thumb depression. A full-wells grip has a rise
on the front (and back) that is used for the thumb - making a depression
there seems to negate the need for a full-wells type grip. You can see why
I'm confused and I'll be damned if even Winston has a picture of one on
their site....

Anyway - thanks to all that chimed in to offer their help. It is
appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob S.

"BobS" wrote in message
...

Anyway - thanks to all that chimed in to offer their help. It is
appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob S.

Bob to but in have you ever tried the Manifold ergonomic grips They look
dreadful but as I have a few aches and pains in my hand I tested it I was
amazed by the extra time I could spend before I had to rest up .
Sorry if this is in the wrong place but thought it might help.

John.

"John & Emma Whiteley" wrote in message
...

"BobS" wrote in message
...

Anyway - thanks to all that chimed in to offer their help. It is
appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob S.

Bob to but in have you ever tried the Manifold ergonomic grips They look
dreadful but as I have a few aches and pains in my hand I tested it I was
amazed by the extra time I could spend before I had to rest up .
Sorry if this is in the wrong place but thought it might help.

John.


John,

Thanks for the suggestion. I did a quick search on "Manifold ergonomic
grips" and didn't come up with any relevant hits for fly fishing grips.
I'll do some more searching but if you have a web site this could very well
be of interest to many others. My concern for a smaller grip is due to the
wife having small hands and a lighter rod with a small grip like the
Winston - feels better.

Ole Arthy-Ritis will certainly be a concern in the future since it's a
family trait but for now - not a big problem.

Thank you,

Bob S.

On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 10:53:59 -0400, "BobS" wrote:


"John & Emma Whiteley" wrote in message
...

"BobS" wrote in message
...

Anyway - thanks to all that chimed in to offer their help. It is
appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob S.

Bob to but in have you ever tried the Manifold ergonomic grips They look
dreadful but as I have a few aches and pains in my hand I tested it I was
amazed by the extra time I could spend before I had to rest up .
Sorry if this is in the wrong place but thought it might help.

John.


John,

Thanks for the suggestion. I did a quick search on "Manifold ergonomic
grips" and didn't come up with any relevant hits for fly fishing grips.
I'll do some more searching but if you have a web site this could very well
be of interest to many others. My concern for a smaller grip is due to the
wife having small hands and a lighter rod with a small grip like the
Winston - feels better.

Ole Arthy-Ritis will certainly be a concern in the future since it's a
family trait but for now - not a big problem.

Thank you,

Bob S.


It's "maniform" - www.siestacorktiles.co.uk

TC,
R

Thanks,

Bob S.




It's "maniform" - www.siestacorktiles.co.uk

TC,
R