Posted by:
roger wilson
(---.hsd1.mn.comcast.net)
Darrel,
The simple answer is cloth gloves.
Cloth gloves you say, why?
The reason for using cloth gloves is that you can hold the grip as you ream it under power and use the cloth gloves to let the grip slip from time to time as you ream. By letting the grip turn a bit ever few seconds, the rotating grip will tend to do a nice job of keeping the hole centered.
In addition, I use the variable speed wired drill simply because I never run out of power and I have the control and speed range that I wish to use. For much of the reaming that I do in cork, I do at a very slow speed. i.e. speeds of 5-200 rpm. I almost never pull the trigger to top speed. I find that faster speed is not necessary and may be detrimental to the job from time to time.
I use a couple of 3/8th and a 1/2 inch corded variable speed drills, held in my lap when I am reaming cork.
I tried using a fixed drill, a drill press, a horizontal fixed drill be always came back to a hand held drill and a hand held grip to do the job most quickly and most efficiently. For the reaming I use a set of circular files that I have modified to handle the reaming needs.
I use the variable speed drill - with the direction set in reverse. By having the drill in reverse, the drill will not try to screw itself into the grip and without reaming or cutting, actually screw itself in and split the cork. But by keeping the drill in reverse one forces the spinning drill into the hole and it does a very nice job of reaming the cork with no issue of splitting the cork. I start with a small file and gradually work to a larger size as needed. In particular, I will use the file to insure that each end of the grip is reamed to the perfect size. Then, if reaming a long grip that can't ream to the center, I will use an appropriate 18 inch aircraft extension bit to drill out the center of the grip to accommodate the center of the grip over the blank.
For example:
[
www.rodbuilding.org]
Extension bits:
[
www.harborfreight.com]
[
www.harborfreight.com]
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Cloth gloves:
[
www.fleetfarm.com]
I buy these gloves by the dozen. Any time that I am doing turning, I always wear these gloves. Notice that there is no rubber or anti slip dots or palms on these gloves. The idea of these gloves is to do a couple of things. Keep your hands clean, protect your hands, and if an object needs to slip, you can loosen your grip and the object will slip in the grip of the gloves
Any time that you are working with objects that are spinning in front of you; you really do NOT want a non slip glove on your hand. If you have a non slip glove on your hand, the glove can grab and can easily break a hand or worse. But, with gloves like this, when working with this sort of work, you just loosen the grip and the object can spin, and the glove will protect your hand from the spinning object.
By keeping new gloves on hand, if the gloves become soiled, you toss the glove or gloves and put on another glove or pair of gloves
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On the other hand, when working with tools, as in wrenching on a car, I use nitrile, latex, or mechanics non slip gloves to prevent your hands from slipping on the tools. So, I also keep a box of this style gloves on hand as well for the times that I don't want my hands to slip and or keep my hands clean. i.e. any time that I am painting, I keep a pair of nitrile or latex gloves on my hands to keep my hands clean.
Good luck.
