Debra Traverse

[Debra Traverse]

I have questions about pen mandrels.

Although my main interest is bowl turning, I'd like to knock out a variety of smaller products.
In addition to pens, I plan to create a few custom bushings so I can turn decorative discs (@ 2-1/2") for X-mas ornament segments.

Q #1 - Has anyone got experience trying this?
Q #2 - Which mandrel should I buy?

Woodriver $30
Hurricane $40
Pennstate $40
Axminster $70
Ultra-Shear $160.

I want a quality product but don't know how to evaluate these mandrels.

Any helpful thoughts?

 

[Earl McLain]

Welcome Debra...nice bowl in your other thread. I've done a few hundred pens--though not as many since i started on bowls!!
I've come to view pen mandrels as "consumable" in that the rod doesn't stay straight forever, and eventually causes out-of-round turning. Doesn't take much inaccuracy when the finished wood is only 1-2mm thick!! So...for me it's not a one time purchase (maybe every 50-75 pens?? I'm on my 3rd or 4th in 8 years or so)
Next--i'm a user of a "mandrel saver" and turn one blank at a time so that flex in the rod is minimized. It's a tail stock device with a through-bore--again to keep the turning concentric. Nova makes a mandrel saver, Peachtree has their own, etc.

Penn State also has a "turn between center" set that has a short stub on the MT-2 drive piece and the MT-2 live center--i like using that, but the bearings in the live end are not the highest quality (replaceable, just a wear issue).

Good luck!!

 

[Tom Gall]

Debra, if you can give a better description of what you have in mind maybe I/we can give some different suggestions.
I've used many different methods for disc type ornaments over the years. Never any kind of mandrel. Small vacuum chucks, home made off-center chucks, small 4-jaw chucks, double stick tape, etc. Some very thin discs like shallow bowls, some beveled on both sides, etc.

Ornaments from 2004 & 2005, disc from 2014

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

Love those Tom!! Really crisp and eye catching!

 

[hockenbery]

plan to create a few custom bushings so I can turn decorative discs (@ 2-1/2") for X-mas ornament segments.

Not sure what your disc design is. A vacuum chuck will hold discs nicely.
Like @Tom Gall
I also turn a fair number using double sided tape - can often turn a side on 2-4 disc with the same tape.
The p in psa is pressure so it takes 30 seconds to a minute of tailstock pressure to achieve adhesion.

 

[Richard Coers]

I turn tapered pendants and use a block of wood in a 4 jaw chuck and double back tape to hold them.