To make corncob holders go to the hardware store and bought some 3/32 stainless steel rods. Cut to 1.5 lengths, using a drill and a belt sander sharpen one end. I drilled 2 holes for the "spikes" in my blank. I made a wood mandrel that screwed on to the headstock with holes that matched the holes on the blanks, I first sanded the spike end, stuck them on the mandrel and the turned them. I had a piece of Plexiglass drilled with 2 holes that I used to make nail holes to guide my drill bit.
But after seeing Wooknot's 4 hole versions, I will upgrade my mandrel to his design using 4 holes.