Well, I am waiting for my H&H 9’#4 kit to come in, and I have come up with a question. I am worried about trying to turn the blank by hand while putting epoxy on the wraps, and while they are drying by that matter. So I am thinking of getting a rod turner. Problem is, I am not wanting to make a lot of rods. In fact, after this kit, I may only build 1 - 3 more rods as gifts for family. I don’t want spend a lot of moey on a factory turner just for 1 - 3 rods.
With that all in mind, has anyone built a homemade rod turner? Does anyone have any instructions on how to go about it? Is it worth it?
I am not trying to be “cheap”, I just don’t think $75 - $100 plus shipping is worth it for a max of 3 rods.
As always, all help and advise is GREATLY appreciated!!!
slip a dowel in the end of the rod that made to fit with masking tape then chuck it into a CHEAP variable speed drill. A clamp on the trigger and the speed is adjusted as slow as you can and FIRE THAT PUPPY UP. Cheap efective and reusable for other things later.Used this system for years but haven’t wrapped a rod in a while but it will work.Even if you have to buy a drill shouldn’t have to spend much on a drill.
RCaillouet3;
Crook33 & teasles hit it. My dryier is a roterisseri from a garage sale for a buck!
The cheapest version is a cardboard box with a couple of “V” notches cut in it and every 15 min. rotate the blank 180 degrees for about 3-4 hours. Set a oven timer, kick back with a classic western movie and just relax!! Just remember that if John Wayne is shooting up all the bad guys an extra min. won’t hurt!
I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!
When I needed to build myself a new turner I remembered I had a microwave laying out in the junk pile. It had been there over one winter but when I removed the motor that turns the turntable it worked perfectly. I made a stand from oak, patterning it after the expensive ones found on the market. Made myself a chuck from a PVC cap, attaching it to the motor by epoxying a ? shaft into the PVC cap. Then joined the motor shaft and my cap shaft with a piece of rubber tubing. Works perfectly as for number of turns per minute and my cost was less than $5.
Made two stands to support with V cut in the top and even made them adjustable for height. Lined the V cut with suede, glued to the wood with yellow glue.
Count today of rods turned on my homemade turner is over 50 rods.
Denny