Mandrel saver pressure

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Sabaharr

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Messages
598
Location
Slidell, LA
I guess I should have put this tip here first but here it is now. I have often wondered how much pressure to crank on my tailstock when using a mandrel saver. Not enough and the blank stops spinning and too much can eventually damage headstock or mandrel saver bearings. I devised a cheap (free for me) method that puts the perfect pressure and has not failed me yet. Before mounting anything else on the mandrel I made a sandwich of two small flat washers and a split lock washer that just fit on the mandrel shaft, then mounted everything else as usual. Enough pressure applied to flatten the split washer is all it takes.
 
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Skie_M

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Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
2,737
Location
Lawton, Ok
Recently had a nasty little "oops" event .... I dropped my mandrel and it bent pretty badly. :(


Ordered a new one, and will be putting some washers and a lockwasher on it when it gets here. :)
 

Hawkdave

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Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
243
Location
Adelaide, Australia
That's a great idea Stephen. I will also be doing the same from now on.

When I started to use a Mandrel Saver, I didn't expect it to wear the thread down on the mandrel shaft. This happens when you are turning a pen with 2 parts. After a short time, it started to vibrate making it harder to turn. I got my mate to make me a new shaft minus the end thread and all turned out well.

Dave.
 

Marmotjr

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Joined
Jun 16, 2016
Messages
245
Location
Rome, Ohio
OK, Newb question. The brass screw nut on the end of the mandrel is not needed to be used with a saver? Mine's in the mail and should be here this week.

The lock washer is a great idea though.
 
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