Mandrels

[knotstable]

Does anyone build grips on mandrels? If so do you turn them on the mandrel when shaping on a lathe?

[FontaineRods]

i buy individual cork rings, glue them on the rod, then turn the rod on a lathe to shape.

[knotstable]

I've been doing just that, but I have started to build grips using birch bark which comes out beautiful. I'm just afraid sometime down the road if I run into a problem while turning, it might be real pain to get the grip off. But on a mandrel I won't have worry about damaging a blank. The birch is harder than cork so it gets tricky when using both for a grip.

Thanks for your input Seawolf!

[iflysw]

Mandrels on my Delta lathe work for me. Apply some paraffin on the mandrel glue up how many rings to the size of your grip, then shape to the style you prefer.I purchesed a set of five mandrels from Andy Dear Lamar rod building tools.