ed4copies
Local Chapter Manager
In reading another post, the subject of tightening the mandrel has come up. This has started a conversation, but I would like to hear MANY opinions on this one. I frequently find my mandrel "whipping" in the center, creating an out-of-round condition. Conventional wisdom has been: the nut is too tight, loosen it. I have tried this, with varying success. But why SHOULD it work? The mandrel goes into the headstock on a Morse taper, so it comes out straight. Tightening the nut puts pressure on the length of the mandrel and, if the bushings are all "square", the pressure should be "stretching" the mandrel-exactly straight.
Another possiblility is that the tailstock is not lined up 100% correctly-but the "tailstock end" of the pen is NOT out of round.
Hope this will start a conversation that all can learn from. Or, maybe I'm the only one who ever had this problem (on all 3 of my lathes???)
Another possiblility is that the tailstock is not lined up 100% correctly-but the "tailstock end" of the pen is NOT out of round.
Hope this will start a conversation that all can learn from. Or, maybe I'm the only one who ever had this problem (on all 3 of my lathes???)