First Custom Grip! - Updated

Gramps · Post by **Gramps** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:03 am

Here is the first grip I ever turned. Used a Grizzly drill lathe, it is great and only $50!

Started with cork rings; natural, burned & burned "light mix".

5" Rear Grip

Didn't get a picture of the 2 1/2" fore grip.

Grips on Mandrel

Finished fore grip on 5' UL Matrix Blank

Finished rear grip

It is all ready for epoxy & wrapping. I can not beleive how easy it was to turn the grips, the worst part is waiting for the epoxy to dry!

mudfish · Post by **mudfish** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:02 pm

You go Gramps! When you get this Flyfishing thing down-pat I'll be your first (and oldest) pupil.

chuckst1 · Post by **chuckst1** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:37 pm

Sweet, that looks real nice Gramps. 8)

JoeS · Post by **JoeS** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:39 pm

Looks real good Scott................

Shep · Post by **Shep** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:04 pm

OOhhh, pretty.

yohan1973 · Post by **yohan1973** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:09 pm

Great Job! Yeah, those grizzly lathes are great! Welcome to the grizzly club!
May I make ONE SUGGESTION. Don't turn cork in the house! Specially when you start using finer grit paper. I turn in my garage and It's a freaking MESS! I have a never ending cork mist in there. I even started using a shop vac and I still get that fracking dust every where!

noles · Post by **noles** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:43 am

Rub two coats of Tru-oil on that grip and the grains on the cork will come alive. I love the feel of the burnt cork over regular cork.

Yohan, get yourself a box fan and tape an air-filter on the in-take side. Place the fan on the back side of the lathe (blowing away from the lathe) and keep it on when you're turning. Takes care of the fine dust and the shop vac takes care of the larger particles.

Gramps · Post by **Gramps** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:11 pm

Thanks for the kind words guys! It is pretty damn cool to create these things. I will be wrapping the guides tonight & epoxy tomorrow, should be ready for the weekend. Forgot to mention, I turned a cork arbor for the reel seat, nice & snug! And I am inserting a 1950 Wheat Penny for the grip/butt cap.

Yohan - I turn the grips in my garage and use a shop vac, still have micro cork dust everywhere. Also, what is the finest grit sandpaper you use? The finest I have now is 220 (I think).

Noles - Where do they sell the Tru-Oil? And that box fan idea is great. Thanks.

Oh ya, the Lamiglas 7'6" popping blank & accessories will be here in a few days. Plus another custom grip.... stay tuned.

I have an extra blank for future use, if any customers are out there. 8)

noles · Post by **noles** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:35 pm

The finest grit I use is 600; Lowes & Home Depot carries them in the paint section. (Wet sanding). I don't see any advantage going higher than that.

You can pick up Tru-oil at Walmart. It's in the gun cleaning section, Birchwood-Casey Tru Oil gun stock finish.

Gramps · Post by **Gramps** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:49 am

Well now that it is finished, more pictures are necessary.

Finished Grip:

Full Rod (I will attempt a better picture later...):

Epoxied Wrap (Green Gudebrod):
Coming Soon...

noles · Post by **noles** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:53 am

Very nice Scott. Next time consider putting a rubberize cork or a rubber cap on the bottom of the grip for protection.

abz400 · Post by **abz400** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:46 pm

post up some pics on that grizzly lathe.its alot cheaper than going to a flexcoat drill lathe.