I want to glue and shape cork pieces together to form flyrod grips. Will I need a wood lathe? And are there any cheap, but good, mini wood lathes to
fit on a workbench? And do both head stock and tail stocks need chucks to firmly secure a steel mandrel placed through cork stock (i.e. glued together)
like you have on a power drill? Has anyone ever made a wood lathe using a power drill on turning end....but how secure tail end ?

Since I'm not a woodworker haven't really known much about wood lathes. Thanks... Sam Slack

I have used the Flexcoat Cork Lathe for past 15 years and cant think why I would want to get anything else.

I have used the Flexcoat Cork Lathe for past 15 years and cant think why I would want to get anything else.
Herb

Hi Sam,

I made a very nice cork lathe out of wood. I made a cradle to support an upside down drill, and on the other end I put a wooden upright that has two sealed ball bearing sets pressed into recessed holes: 1/4" I.d. and one with 3/8" I.d. This way I can use two different sized mandrels.

I'm not at my shop, otherwise I would post a picture.

I have turned wood on this lathe, and actually prefer it to my "real" Jet lathe.

Take care,

Chris

Grizzly H2669 Hobby Lathe is inexpensive and pretty easy to come by. If you look at the picture you'll see the tailstock has a tapered fixture that fits the end of the mandrel which has a machined recess.

Grizzly hobby lathe. There are other options, but the Grizz was inexpensive, easy, and more than adequate.

If you have a drill press, sink a ball bearing with a 1/4 inch bore into a piece of 1 by 4. Clamp the 1 by 4 onto the drill press platen, or whatever it's called. Mount your rings onto a 1/4 inch mandrell. With one end of the mandrel in the drill press collet, and the other in the bearing in the 1 by 4, you have both ends stable and all is safe. Experiment for the right speed, then use 60 grit sandpaper to turn your cork grips.

Flex coat Cork Lathe Set-up
I have to agree with Herb , been using mine for years and never needed anything more, have shaped any configuration of grip you can think of , is perfect if you have limited space also

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

[www.amazon.com]

[www.amazon.com]

[www.amazon.com]

[www.pennstateind.com]

Local Craigs list for my area:

[minneapolis.craigslist.org]

I made a simple lathe set-setup using a long machine screw and some clear tubing that barely fits in the butt end of the blank to make mandrels for each size of blank you are using. Expand the tubing with a nut so it bulges snugly in the blank then it is just a matter of putting a couple of holes in a sturdy cardboard box, sliding the blank in ahead of the cork blank then back the rear end out of the other hole and attach a variable speed drill to the mandrel. Toss the box out with the cork dust inside once you are finished.

I've made four or five handles this way, cigar handles for 4wgt and less and modified wells for 5wgt and bigger. I make them to fit my hand and they all seem to be larger diameter than commercial handles especially the 2 wgt but feel fantastic in the hand.

Roger Wilson I do not see that many lathes here in a year!

Thanks to all who have responded to my "cork lathe" question. I did not know about the Flex Coat Cork Lathe set up. I will follow up.
Sam Slack

I use a dedicated wood lathe now after previously using a set up like the flexcoat one. Couldn't be happier with using a real lathe.

Harbor freight lathes are cheap and are the same origin as grizzly/etc.

Never used the flex coat lathe, but I'm sure it works good. I use the grizzly lathe. No complaints. Works great and the sanding disk attachment works good for grinding down large guide feet.

I started with a redneck engineered lathe based on a variable speed drill. Ten, on advice from a much more experienced builder, I bought one of these.

[www.amazon.com]

There is a world of difference. This thing is more than well worth the price.

Beware! Turning is as addictive as rod building.

Beware again! I have more invested in chucks and tools for turning than I have in the lathe.

Gary Kilmartin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I started with a redneck engineered lathe based on
> a variable speed drill. Ten, on advice from a much
> more experienced builder, I bought one of these.
>
> [www.amazon.com]-
> Mini-Lathe/dp/B002FB74YM/ref=sr_1_1?s=power-hand-t
> ools&ie=UTF8&qid=1489328339&sr=1-1&keywords=Rikon
>
> There is a world of difference. This thing is more
> than well worth the price.
>
> Beware! Turning is as addictive as rod building.
>
> Beware again! I have more invested in chucks and
> tools for turning than I have in the lathe.

I bought the same one a few months ago to replace my old beat up craftsman. So far, I'm happy with it.

There is a saying in Russian " I'm not so rich that I can afford to buy cheap stuff " . If you think at any time you MAY decide to turn something harder or mor resilient than cork (like wood or acrylic) go ahead and invest in a decent mini wood lathe. Roger (above) has given you several to check out. IMHO ANY of them is way better than trying to adapt one tool (variable speed drill) to another function. Sure it will work but it will eventually bother the dickens out of you.

In addition, if you happen to be in a metro area, you may have a used tool shop close to you. There is a used tool shop relatively close to me, and I have found some excellent tools there over the years for a very reasonable price.

Take care

Ken, while I agree with you on the hand drill set-up, using a drill press is a very different story. It is quiet, smooth, easy setup, allows precision in the shape and dimensions. Not suitable for woods and acrylic, but works perfectly for cork and EVA. The cost, if you already have a drill press, is less than $10 for a bearing and a clamp.

Most definitely get the best you can afford, I got the Grizzly Hobby Lathe, unfortunately the drill they show on the box is no longer available, I stepped up to a 6amp Dewalt not bad but tried to use a variable speed hookup and the voltage was compromised also the collar on the drill needs to fit the grizzly lathe and this was fairly snug. I've managed to use this but with some degree of issues. I watched the flexcoat video and that is a workable setup but goes back to the variable speed on the drill. Being a newbie and really getting ate up with the rodbuilding craft I believe the Rikon lathe or a similar setup is in the future but yep I see where the chucks will be an ugly battle. Great website always looking to gain more knowledge and some year hope to get to and EXPO.