I have just been turning a birch and tulipwood grip and find it is not true to center. The center was bored true.
Anyone have any info on what I did wrong? Also, a tip to correct this? It is to be a 14" grip for a center pin float rod. Hate to start over.
Thanks, guys.

Harry T. Bell

Harry,
Since this is a wood grip, I assume that you are using standard turning tools to shape the grip.

Since this is a 14 inch grip, you may very well be getting some bending of the grip as you turn. If that is the case, you can likely get off center.

Often, with a grip that long, it is sometimes better to do the gluing in two pieces. When you are fairly close to the final size, then glue the two pieces together and do the final shaping.

Also, how fast are you turning the grip. Normally, the faster the turning speed, the easier it is to keep the piece on center.

What is the size of the mandrel that are use to hold the grip?

Of course, I am sure that your turning tools are razor sharp.

One thing that helps for me on a long grip, is to use a ball bearing rest to stabilize the center of the grip as it is being turned. I use a couple layers of blue masking tape to keep the rests from marking the grip.





Be safe

Harry,
Since this is a wood grip, I assume that you are using standard turning tools to shape the grip.

Since this is a 14 inch grip, you may very well be getting some bending of the grip as you turn. If that is the case, you can likely get off center.

Often, with a grip that long, it is sometimes better to do the gluing in two pieces. When you are fairly close to the final size, then glue the two pieces together and do the final shaping.

Also, how fast are you turning the grip. Normally, the faster the turning speed, the easier it is to keep the piece on center.

What is the size of the mandrel that are use to hold the grip?

Of course, I am sure that your turning tools are razor sharp.

One thing that helps for me on a long grip, is to use a ball bearing rest to stabilize the center of the grip as it is being turned. I use a couple layers of blue masking tape to keep the rests from marking the grip.

This is a picture of the ball bearing rest that I use for stabilizing long pieces:

[www.rodbuilding.org]





Be safe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2014 06:21PM by roger wilson.

Should have used your mid rest. I just finished gluing up more birch bark rings to remake it. I was going to use the bark for a foregrip. Also will have to redo the tip end of the grip which is tulipwood. The butt end is ok, also tulipwood.
So I've got to reorder some more bark. Already ordered more tulipwood. I like the colors that come out with tulipwood. Thank God it's cheap. Mandrel is an inch in diameter to accommodate the butt end of the blank, 0.975".
The large blank has been throwing me these curveballs.

Lesson learned: turn long grips in more than one step!!

Thanks Roger.

Should have used your mid rest. I just finished gluing up more birch bark rings to remake it. I was going to use the bark for a foregrip. Also will have to redo the tip end of the grip which is tulipwood. The butt end is ok, also tulipwood.
So I've got to reorder some more bark. Already ordered more tulipwood. I like the colors that come out with tulipwood. Thank God it's cheap. Mandrel is an inch in diameter to accommodate the butt end of the blank, 0.975".
The large blank has been throwing me these curveballs.

Lesson learned: turn long grips in more than one step!!

Thanks Roger.

Harry, where do you order the birch bark from?

Harry,

I'm having trouble understanding just what your experiencing, but putting both your post's info together and adding some intuition am I correct in thinking you have glued a tulip wood to stacked birch bark and turned it on a flex-free large diameter mandrel to finish size and shape? If I'm right up to this point, are you saying that it did or didn't turn round or are you saying that it changed shape out of round after removing it from the mandrel? These are two completely different problems. If you could elaborate and clarify what's happening it would be helpful to diagnose your problem(s).

Hard to understand how turning the bark and wood on a 1" mandrel can get out of round, unless you are applying lots of pressure when turning.

Additionally, the statement "the center was bored true" is confusing, the center of what? The Birch bark rings, the Tulipwood pieces?

When was the boring done in the process?