nightowl
Member
Is there a video I can watch that shows a pen being turned without a mandrel? This concept sounds interesting to me.
Ok so I've been busy at work for a while and have not been following some of this but can someone tell me what the advantage of not using a mandrel? I "assume" this would eliminate any play that a slight bend in a Mandrel might have????
That is about it. But that is a BIG "about it". :biggrin:
1. Bent mandrel for one reason on another.
2. Mandrel flex from being too tight against the tail stock.
3. Mandrel flex from too much pressure of the chisel on hard wood, especially for beginners.
4. Mandrel / bushing fittings being slightly loose fitting will cause OOR.
Bushings with the hole drilled off center will cause the same problem on the mandrel-less method as it will for the mandrel, however it will be amplified a bit more on the mandrel.
Tail stock out of alignment will still cause problems.
However, when you eliminate 1, 2, 3 & 4 above, the difficulty in finding an OOR problem is GREATLY reduced.
Lee, you forgot mandrel flex just because that's what mandrels do. Doesn't require doing anything wrong. Just part of what happens with them.
I'm taking this plunge tonight. I have had some trouble with blanks being out-of-round, but mostly I'm tired of trying to get rid of the sanding crud that comes off (or out from under) the bushings. This system looks like it will marginally increase the amount of time that it takes to turn a pen, but I'm confident it will make for better pens.
Hank,
You've been a great help to me - both on and off the forum - to understand what's involved in mandrel-less turning.
My basic question now is: why was I not taught this method from the beginning? It seems that this is the better way to go - even for beginners.
Hank,
You've been a great help to me - both on and off the forum - to understand what's involved in mandrel-less turning.
My basic question now is: why was I not taught this method from the beginning? It seems that this is the better way to go - even for beginners.
I think another reason beginners start with mandrels is that they are usually directed by someone to start with the slimline as their first pen and you need the mandrel for that since the pushings aren't stepped.
3. And yes, my first pen turned was a slim. So I can see the reasoning for the mandrel there.
4. It would be good if there were more people selling the high quality bushings like Johnny and Paul. That would make more people aware of the alternative.
Gentlemen,even the slimline is a go between centers,with solid bushings.
I made many,many sets of my custom bushings just for slimlines,and they work like a dream!
Maybe Paul will make Y'all some soon.:biggrin:
That's it, rub it in that I don't have any custom bushings yet:frown:. I've only turned a few pens between centers but I used the regular bushings. I see the custom ones in my future but if I spend another dime on 'stuff' i think LOML will kill me.
Just great! I have never turned a pen, and just joined here after ordering a beginner's pen turning kit that includes a mandrel.
I have watched videos on pen turning with a mandrel, and don't yet understand turning without a mandrel. Using a mandrel you mount two pieces of wood, the pen top and bottom, between a bushing. Right?
With no mandrel do you turn each half independently? This is what I don't understand. Did I miss something here?
Help, please.
Just great! I have never turned a pen, and just joined here after ordering a beginner's pen turning kit that includes a mandrel.
I have watched videos on pen turning with a mandrel, and don't yet understand turning without a mandrel. Using a mandrel you mount two pieces of wood, the pen top and bottom, between a bushing. Right?
With no mandrel do you turn each half independently? This is what I don't understand. Did I miss something here?
Help, please.