How a custom grip is made

[Bass_Bug]

Nice work Steve. Is that shrink wrap on it in the finished pic?

[Midwest Custom Fly Rods]

Nice work Steve. Is that shrink wrap on it in the finished pic?

Yep I usually shrink wrap the grips soon as they are done to prevent them from getting dirty during the rest of the build.

Steve

[kbproctor]

Yep I usually shrink wrap the grips soon as they are done to prevent them from getting dirty during the rest of the build.

Steve

And I thought you had turned the extra glue down to shape and polished it! <duckin' and runnin'>

[waynep]

Mandrel question . . . i assume it's 1/4" since cork rings are 1/4 inch ID right? I have looked at anglersworshop.com, hookhack.com, mudhole.com, where would I find one?

[ldice]

Try Woodcraft. A pen turning mandrel will work just fine. The have one that you can adjust the length on, and also hold it down tight.

[Cliff955]

Thanks for the great tutorial Steve. I've been reluctant to try to make a grip because I have no lathe - now that's been exposed as a weak excuse so I'll have to go for it!

Cliff

[kbproctor]

Go to your local Ace Hardware and find the little rack of "hobby" metal shapes and pieces. S&K is what the brand is here. There will be a heavy walled aluminum tube about a foot long for a tad less than $3. Some of the bigger stores will have the same tubing in 2' lengths, too. I got the short one and it works hunky dory neato keen cool for me.

[Midwest Custom Fly Rods]

Yep it's a 1/4" one Wayne. Best place to pick them up is Backlash tool for $10.99 http://www.backlashtools.com/tools.htm

[baitwaister]

I second the backlash mandrels. They are very nice! You might even spend a little more and get the threaded mandrels in case you decide to start turning wood handles and inserts.

[waynep]

Another question. I assume you glue up the handle on the mandrel? How do you get the epoxy to not stick to the mandrel?