I’ve seen pictures, but unfortunately, I am not mechanically inclined. Does anyone have plans, directions, parts needed, etc. for building a drill lathe to turn cork handles? I would be very appreciative. I am doing my present effort by hand but would like to try a lathe.
Thanks
If you can work from just a photo … http://www.flexcoat.com/equip.html. The cork lathe is the RL100, down a bit on the page.
I can’t work from a photo but I have some buddies that may be able to.
Thanks
In the book by Fexcoat. "Step by Step Rod Building" they show how its done . Before you glue on the end cap Take a drill bit that is nearly the right size to fit in the end of the rod grip then put masking tape on the drill bit , taper it a bit so it will force fit into the butt of the rod grip, friction will hold it there as you don’t need to apply much pressure during the working process. 
Try this great link on ‘how to turn cork grips with a hand drill’
http://www.thomaspenrose.com/cork.htm
I do a few things differntly than the above link…
I like to use an 18" piece of 1/4" threaded rod as a clamp and a mandrel for turning. This way I don’t risk any damage to the rod blank when rigged up for turning. I wrap the middle of the threaded rod with plumber’s teflon pipe tape as a release agent and stack the glue smeared cork rings over the steel rod. A washer and 2 hex nuts go on each end and are tightened down as needed. I found that a couple of old roller blade wheels (thrift store) work perfectly as bearings for turning. For rough shaping I like to use the mesh type sanding screens sold for finishing drywall instead of regular sandpaper. The open weave cuts aggresively and doesn’t clog. Use a small piece of wood as a sanding block, cork is soft enough that fingers can leave shallow grooves. Good luck it’s easier than it looks!
that’s a pretty good and inexpensive idea, Kengore. Thanks
Howdy lastchance…Sounds like you’re well on your way.
Looking forward to seeing your finished rod. It’ll be primo !:)…ModocDan
Which brings up another question - is there an easy to get the i.d. of the rings to 1/4"? Mine are more like 1/8". I tried just holding a ring with my fingers and drilling it, but got them offline. Maybe build some kind of a wooden block with a round hole in it the size of the ring?
To re-drill rings I made a simple wood jig for my drill press. A block of 2X4 with a 3/8" deep hole to match the O.D. of the cork ring and a 1/4" dia. thru hole. My rings were 1/2" thick so the 3/8" counter bore left just enough cork sticking out to grab the rings.
I chuck a 1/4" bit into the drill press and use it as a guide to center the jig and clamp it to the press table. I then swap the drill bit for a 1/4" dia. brass tube with a slotted end. The rings are held on center in the counter bore and the brass tube punches out the new center holes.
I found a brass tube worked better in the soft cork, a regular drill bit tends to cause splits if I’m too aggressive.
I got the brass tube at a hobby shop, I used a triangular file to cut a series of notches (like saw teeth) at one end. I use the same tube to cut foam plugs for bass poppers. If you have an old telescoping radio antenna lying around you can disassemble it for several dia. brass tubes…
You could use a hand drill if you used the 1/4" thru hole as a pilot and drilled from the back side.