What is the best way to fab a cork ring handle for a saltwater bait rod
and where to find the right cork rings for this project.

What worries me is the large I.D. required somewhere between .8 and .9 causing a thin wall and how is the I.D. reamed to this size. I would like the O.D. to be around 1.3 to 1.4 inches.

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated

Thank You

If you can find large OD rings, and there are some around, you will have much of the problem licked. You can bore the rings individually on a lathe or in a drill press with a wood boring spade bit turned at a decent RPM (at least 1200 or higher - any lower and you will tear rather than cut the bore).

Another method is to hand ream them, marking a large diameter reamer at the point where it equals the bore required. Ream to that point and stop. Cork reams easily, so this isn't as big of a job as it may seem.

I did have some large OD cork until recently. Sammy Mickel got most of mine to do a similar job to what you are working on. Try the sponsors to the left. Surely somebody has some 1.5 inch rings left around.

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Scott: Clemens Tackle has cork rings in 1 1/2" OD and Merrick Tackle has them in 1 1/2", 1 3/4" and 2" OD. John

Tom -
Thank you for the advise. I have found the rings I need on several of the sponcers web sites.

My next delima is the bore. I do not have a drill press at this time so I will be hand reaming the cork rings. You mentioned a large diameter reamer in your post and I have not been able to locate this specific tool yet.

Where can a reamer this size ( 1") be found ?

Thank you

Don't forget to order more rings then you need since the larger diameter cork is not the highest of quality. For example not all the rings will be cut square.

SCOTT
YOUR CORK REAMER CAN BE MADE FROM AN OLD BLANK OR YOU CAN BUY A CHEAP BLANK AND USE THAT. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS CUT THE BLANK IN HALF USE FROM THE TIP TO THE MID SECTION OF THE BLANK FOR YOUR REAMER JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BLANK PIECE IS AT LEAST BIG ENOUGH TO BORE THE SIZE HOLE THAT YOU NEED IN THE CORK RING.YOUR GOING TO NEED REAMER ABRASIVE YOU CAN GET IT IN A TAPE FORM OR IN A POWDER FORM. IF YOU USE THE TAPE JUST WIND IT IN A SPIRAL DOWN THE BLANK AND YOUR READY TO REAM IF YOU USE THE POWDER FORM COAT THE PIECE OF BLANK WITH EPOXY SPREAD THE POWDER ON A PIECE OF WAX PAPER AND ROLL THE BLANK IN IT WAIT 24 HOURS AND REAM.I USE THE POWDER IT SEEM TO LAST A LONG TIME.YOU CAN GET IT IN HOME DEPOT WHEN YOU USE THE REAMER USE IT IN A TURNING MOTION NOT AN IN AND OUT MOTION IT WILL LAST LONGER HOPE THIS HELPS