closed end pen spinning on the mandrel

[mikes pens]

Anyone have a tip or two on how to keep a closed end pen blank from stop spinning on the mandrel while turning.

Mike

 

[Doghouse]

grind a flat on a stock of metal the size of the inside of the pen tube, and use a finishing nail to hold it.

I use my dull drill bits for the holders. Just mount them in a chuck or drill chuck

 

[bjackman]

hmmmm, Are you using a "pin chuck"? Or just a straight mandrel with the tailstock against the end?

 

[vick]

If I understand right and you are using a regular 7mm mandrel.
Modify the mandrel by fileing an x in the threaded end so that it comes to 4 points like a mini spur center. Then apply preasure with the tailstock.

If you are not talking about a regular mandrel please elaborate.

 

[wdcav1952]

Buy a pin chuck from Fanger. If you plan to do many closed end pens, it will pay for itself. If you are doing a 7mm pen, refer to Russ Fairfield's site, he has excellent directions for modifying an old mandrel to make closed end pens.

 

[dfurlano]

I just use a scrap blank and turn it down to lightly press fit the tube you are using. As long as you leave the blank in the chuck it will remain true.

 

[mikes pens]

Thanks so far for the information. It is a regular mandrel. The pen kits are the pocket pens from CS. I bought the mandrel suggested to go with the kits and it just doesn't do the job.

Mike

 

[RussFairfield]

See my website under the "Long-Line" pen for some instructions to an alternative to a pin-chuck. That applies to the 7mm mandrel, but will also work with larger tubes if a filler piece is made to support the inside end of the mandrel. The open end is supported by the turning bushing. There is a lot of detail on this on my video, Advanced Pencrafting, for both the Long-Line and a closed end Ameroclassic.

Both the video and the website are being revised to show how to do this with a closed-end Baron.

Buying a pin-chuck from Fangar will also solve the problem, and there is an article floating through the forums by Rick Kleinhenz showing how to make your own pin-chuck.

 

[Tea Clipper]

I took the low-tech approach and wrapped a piece of masking tape around the mandrel. I think that a single layer was all that was needed to snug up the blank. I used the tailstock for support during the major cutting phase and parted that end off like the directions say. Here's a link to some baseball bat pens I made from pocket pens.

 

[gerryr]

I made one of those Pocket Pens for a friend and had the same issue. If you just make really light cuts with a very sharp skew you won't have problems. I did keep the tailstock fairly tight and that helped quite a bit.

 

[bonefish]

Doghouse:

Does the saying at the end of your post mean "Don't let the ones whose parents wern't married grind you down?"

Bonefish