Popper Mouths
 

How do you guys make the mouths like a cup on your poppers and pencil poppers?

drill bit, dremel
on pencils I use a belt sander

Forstner bits in a drill press after turning. Then cut off the end at 15 degree angle or so. Don't go too deep--you can't reach the loop in the wire to tie on the leader.

Round nose router bit in the drill press. I use the biggest I could find (1 1/2") from Woodworker's warehouse. There's only two cutting flutes on it though so you do get some chatter.

i also use round over bit to cup out poppers i use a plunge router and a jig with a vee groove block to clamp the plug in. takes a few seconds for a nice round cup

Popper mouth
 

I have been using a 1 1/2" round bit from Woodworkers Supply, $24.99. I find if you experiment and run the lath at medium speed you can get excellent results that require only a little sanding. Go slowly until you get a feel for how to avoid the chatter.

That's the bit I use. Nice idea with the lathe:kewl:

ball rasp on drillpress. johnny "the Ratt Boy"