Making handle bar grips from a bowling ball containing Vulcanite Plastic or from other materials

[mike cates]

Andrew,
Thanks for the knowledge on Lignum Vitae (Iron Wood). It is tough and is used for large machinery spindle bearings and also in the pillow blocks of propeller shafts on large ships. It stays tough and resists heat and friction and can be lubed with oil.
Ipe (pronounced: "ee-pay") is also a tough wood used for outdoor decking.
Both of these woods are oily by nature lending themselves well for anti friction purposes.
Cutting the tougher woods requires carbide tipped tools and high speed and cobalt steel, even if they are TiNi coated, will burn up because the friction to cut these woods is so great. Solid carbide drill bits work best for drilling holes in these woods.
Mike Cates, CA.

 

[vincev]

I think we should use old steering wheels instead of handlebars You can get some awesome steering wheel covers at Auto Zone and are interchangeable.

 

[Hoagie57]

I still haven't seen any pics of a finished pr.

 

[mike cates]

Sorry for not responding earlier as I had not pictorially documented my fabrication process in the past but I had the need recently to make some more hand grips from the vulcanite plastic center of an old bowling ball.
The sequence of the photos will give you somewhat of an idea of the fabrication process (sawing the bowling ball in half on a band saw (using an attached side support plate for anyone's safety during this operation) as I have discussed in my first reply to this post then shaping the cut pieces mounted in a four jaw chuck at one end and a live center at the other end on a metal lathe to the correct profile, length and bore. Some fabrication steps did not unfortunately get photographed but the main idea is to saw the bowling ball in square oversized lengths then go to the metal lathe to profile to size and sand and polish. For the polishing process, an internal stub mandrel can be make to hold the grip so the entire outside length can be polished.
Again, this is a messy and stinky job (if you have ever smelled old original high wheel / hard tire safety vulcanite hand grips) but the finished product outweighs the effort if you like machining or making things.
Hope you all like this.
Mike Cates, CA.

 

[1motime]

Sorry for not responding earlier as I had not pictorially documented my fabrication process in the past but I had the need recently to make some more hand grips from the vulcanite plastic center of an old bowling ball.
The sequence of the photos will give you somewhat of an idea of the fabrication process (sawing the bowling ball in half on a band saw (using an attached side support plate for anyone's safety during this operation) as I have discussed in my first reply to this post then shaping the cut pieces mounted in a four jaw chuck at one end and a live center at the other end on a metal lathe to the correct profile, length and bore. Some fabrication steps did not unfortunately get photographed but the main idea is to saw the bowling ball in square oversized lengths then go to the metal lathe to profile to size and sand and polish. For the polishing process, an internal stub mandrel can be make to hold the grip so the entire outside length can be polished.
Again, this is a messy and stinky job (if you have ever smelled old original high wheel / hard tire safety vulcanite hand grips) but the finished product outweighs the effort if you like machining or making things.
Hope you all like this.
Mike Cates, CA.

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Beautiful! Must have a nice feel when riding

 

[wes holliday]

Wish you had a video of your bowling ball cut up process.

 

[OldMarine]

Who needs grips anymore, they are so old fashioned. This is what the cool kids are doing.
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Doctor: "So, how did you get gored again?"
Me: "..."

 

[tim elder]

I made 10 pair of detatchable grips for my Columbia Chainless bikes back in 1990. I cut the bowling balls with my bandsaw into rectangle turning blanks. A machinest friend made the Columbia threaded endcaps for me but he has since passed. All the bikes are in private collections with the last one I owned going to TOYMAN here on the CABE. I did not use vulcanite for that bike but Maple to match the rims. If i remember correctly, the endcaps are scripted Columbia.