leehljp
Member Liaison
I learned how to make a pen without a mandrel! Works great! NO bushing problems with this setup - well, at least not in the finishing process.
I had on hand a 3/4 by 6 inch aluminum rod, so I turned one end until it was 1/2 inch diameter by 3/4 in length - so that it would fit in my 1/2 in 2 MT drill chuck.
Then I put the drill chuck into the head stock, inserted the rod into the drill chuck and turned a taper on the other end.
With this setup I have two points to mount the blank: the live center on the tail stock and the dead center on the head stock (in the drill chuck).
My real purpose for this was for finishing, not the basic turning. I have had trouble with finishes on oily wood (ebony) in particular. I have boiled it, wiped it with acetone, nuked it in the mocrowave. But CA will often make a minute separation from the ebony blank at the end, and it usually occurs when I separate the blank from the bushing. I have tried my own non stick washers but that does the same. I have some delrin bushings and the glue doesn't really stick too much, but when I pull the blank loose - a small separation somewhere on one end or the other. ARRGH
Once I did have a great finish and upon using the press ever so lightly to assemble the pen, a little light spot came up on the finished blank as it tightened just a smidgen too much.
BUT with the "no mandrel" set up, I have done three ebonys without a problem!
I had on hand a 3/4 by 6 inch aluminum rod, so I turned one end until it was 1/2 inch diameter by 3/4 in length - so that it would fit in my 1/2 in 2 MT drill chuck.
Then I put the drill chuck into the head stock, inserted the rod into the drill chuck and turned a taper on the other end.
With this setup I have two points to mount the blank: the live center on the tail stock and the dead center on the head stock (in the drill chuck).
My real purpose for this was for finishing, not the basic turning. I have had trouble with finishes on oily wood (ebony) in particular. I have boiled it, wiped it with acetone, nuked it in the mocrowave. But CA will often make a minute separation from the ebony blank at the end, and it usually occurs when I separate the blank from the bushing. I have tried my own non stick washers but that does the same. I have some delrin bushings and the glue doesn't really stick too much, but when I pull the blank loose - a small separation somewhere on one end or the other. ARRGH
Once I did have a great finish and upon using the press ever so lightly to assemble the pen, a little light spot came up on the finished blank as it tightened just a smidgen too much.
BUT with the "no mandrel" set up, I have done three ebonys without a problem!