Birch Bark Grips

[dsmith1427]

I have a blank to build and I've been reading about birch bark handles. A couple of weeks ago a storm took down part of my birch tree. After turning my bench top drill press the picture below is my first unfishised results.

The ends are made from Cedar.

Don

 

[krayfish]

Pretty impressive

 

[mutzinbaugh]

very unique. what about weight? would that be heavier than cork? good job don.

 

[dsmith1427]

Thanks. Weight is 1.75 oz. I'm not sure how it compares to cork.

 

[Fishidiot]

That's excellent!
I've turned a handle or two out of various woods and they are a bit heavier, but I like the custom look.

 

[troutbert]

I don't get it. Birch bark is thin. How do you make a solid handle out of it?

 

[Maurice]

troutbert wrote:
I don't get it. Birch bark is thin. How do you make a solid handle out of it?

Just like cork you stack the sheets 7" high, glue them and press them. then turn it on a lathe. I am not even a woodworker and I can figure that out.

 

[Maurice]

troutbert wrote:
I don't get it. Birch bark is thin. How do you make a solid handle out of it?

Just like cork you stack the sheets 7" high, glue them and press them. then turn it on a lathe. I am not even a woodworker and I can figure that out.

So what you are seeing are stacked cross sections of bark.

 

[dsmith1427]

I used the following website as a guideline:

http://www.eclecticguy.com/2009/04/06/birch-bark-fly-rod-grip/

I don't have a lathe so I converted my drill press into a vertical lathe. The picture below shows the grip in the lathe with tree coats of Tung Oil. The link above used Tru-oil and tung oil. I am only going to use tung oil. The mandrill is a quarter inch threaded rod with a coupling nut super glued to the top. The bottom passes through a radial bearing press fit into a 2 x 6. Also, I used a wood chisel to rough the shape and various grits of sand paper, 40 grit to 330 grit, to finish. I use scotch brite between coats of tung oil. I've enjoyed the project and since I have enough birch bark for another grip, I will probably make another one.

Don