Lathes for cork work- Question

[MickD]

What are the recommendations for lathes for use in forming cork rod handle components?

[heathen]

If you just want to turn cork only or some very light wood.

I would reccomend the GRIZZLY HOBBY LATHE combine that with there 1/2" DRILL MOTOR and you have great, cheap, and effective lathe for turning cork and light wood. I use this setup myself and can post pics if you want.

If you think your going to be turning more than cork, and some other harder meterial for the grips I would reccomend RIKON Mini Lathe combine that with a good quality chuck and you can turn just about anything you want. But the price is ALOT more than the Hobby Lathe that is more than adequate for cork and light wood. My dad has this setup and he is also a cutom furnature maker and this is by far one of the best, strongest wood lathes I have ever seen.

You might also want to look into getting some mandrels.

[MickD]

Re:  If you think your going to be turning more than cork, and some other harder meterial for the grips I would reccomend RIKON Mini Lathe combine that with a good quality chuck and you can turn just about anything you want.

Plan right now is to just use for light stuff, but I'll have to compare prices to see if it makes sense to go higher.  I noticed a Wilton light duty lathe on Amazon for only $100, thought it would probably do what I need to do.  Have any experience on Wilton?

thanks, Mick

[heathen]

I have no personal experience with Wilton stuff. It could be a great lathe I dont know, but one thing to watch out for is if it has "live" centers, most of the cheaper lathes they are not in line with each other, so you wont get a true spin. You can get it right with shims and what not, but sometimes its more of a pain than just going with a better one right of the box.

I have a buddy who uses the Turncrafter PRO Lathe

One other thing to keep in mind if your using a actual lathe, your going to need a chuck to turn cork with, and you need a good one and those are kind of pricey, normally around 150 but can be found for 1/2 price on sale at times.

[MickD]

Thanks, Riverwarrier, for the lathe tips.  I sure do learn something every time I open this forum!

Mick

[Gatorbassman]

I just got the Grizzly Hobbie Lathe for Christmas. ReelMech uses one to. It sets up easy and takes up very little space in the shop. Now I'm just waiting on the cork from Mudhole.

[WCCT]

O.K., so I still don't really know exactly what I need to turn a grip. :-/  If I get a grizzly lathe with drill and a 1/4" mandrel, will that do it?  It sounds like the 1/4" size will get me by.  I know nothing about lathes :-/  Does the mandrel just go into the drill like a bit, and then hook to the cone shaped part(not sure what it is called)LOL.  Also, would a set of those chisels on the lamaar website work.  I know I also need sand paper.  Thanks for helping .  I really hate not knowing squat about these kinds of things

[heathen]

If I get a grizzly lathe with drill and a 1/4" mandrel, will that do it?  It sounds like the 1/4" size will get me by.

Yep that will get you by and that would make a great set-up for cork and very light wood.

 

Does the mandrel just go into the drill like a bit, and then hook to the cone shaped part(not sure what it is called)LOL.

Yep thats how I do it and I use 1/4" mandrel then ream from there most of the time. I do have a couple other mandrels but they arent as true as the 1/4" I got from lamar fishing. That cone shaped thing at the end is called a live center. It works to keep the mandrel turning true and inline with the drill chuck.  

Also, would a set of those chisels on the lamaar website work.  I know I also need sand paper.

You dont need anything more than sandpaper to turn cork grips. I use 60 for the rough in, then 120, then 220, then 440. I wrap the paper around a block of wood so I can lay it on the rest and keep it flat and true.

You technically dont need a lathe or mandrel to turn cork, but it really helps. You can also mount a drill in a vise, stick in a short piece of straight all thread and turn that way. Its a little harder but it can be done.

Also remember to get some beeswax or something on the mandrel before gluing up the cork so it dont stick fast to the mandrel/all thread.

Also Lowes/home depot type places have stuff called drill rod. This can also be used as a mandrel as well and works very good if you can find a piece thats straight.

[WCCT]

Great info.  Thanks alot

[MickD]

I just received my Grizzly Hobby Lathe, and surprise, it works only with a drill with a 41 mm housing nose, which I think might be only with a Grizzly 1/2 " drill.  Since I have two other drills, and was planning on using them, I am disappointed.

If I have to buy a Grizzly drill + the lathe it costs almost as much as a more versatile mini wood lathe, so I'm sending it back and am going with a real lathe.

Thanks for the tips, fellows, but I think the Hobby Lathe makes sense only if you don't already have a drill and plan to buy one anyway.

[justtrying]

dane,

like you, when i first started w/building rods, i was faced with all the "lathe questions."  ..i decided to just bite the bullet & bought a rikon mini lathe.  it was a great choice.  i find i use it for quite a few things around the shop (even building toy baseball bats for the grandkids. LOL)    ...i've even built some reel handles & butt sections out of a dead dogwood branch from one of my trees.

it was a good investment for me & for just a few more dollars, i solved the "lathe problem."

ronnie

[Gatorbassman]

I just received my Grizzly Hobby Lathe, and surprise, it works only with a drill with a 41 mm housing nose, which I think might be only with a Grizzly 1/2 " drill. Since I have two other drills, and was planning on using them, I am disappointed.

If I have to buy a Grizzly drill + the lathe it costs almost as much as a more versatile mini wood lathe, so I'm sending it back and am going with a real lathe.

Thanks for the tips, fellows, but I think the Hobby Lathe makes sense only if you don't already have a drill and plan to buy one anyway.

You can also look at Harbor Freight Tools. Get the cheepest hammer drill they have. I got one for $25 just before Christmas.