Adjustable Pen Mandrel (B)

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
BigShed

BigShed

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
1,068
Location
Adelaide, SA, Australia.
I am using an adjustable pen mandrel for the A kits, but have a standard mandrel from Bear Tooth Woods for the B size.

Have searched everywhere in Oz, nobody has an adjustable B mandrel it seems.

Did a google and came up with Arizona Silhouette, very nice looking mandrel, but they might as well be on the moon as they refuse to ship overseas (appararently "overseas" includes Canada!)

Other than buying a collet chuck setup ($$$$) what are my options?
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
If you really want the one from Arizona Silhouette,
I'd be glad to get it and mail to you,as long as you
pay for all the costs...Just an offer to help out!:)
Originally posted by BigShed

I am using an adjustable pen mandrel for the A kits, but have a standard mandrel from Bear Tooth Woods for the B size.

Have searched everywhere in Oz, nobody has an adjustable B mandrel it seems.

Did a google and came up with Arizona Silhouette, very nice looking mandrel, but they might as well be on the moon as they refuse to ship overseas (appararently "overseas" includes Canada!)

Other than buying a collet chuck setup ($$$$) what are my options?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks John, you guys are awesome, you are actually the second one to make this offer, I am blown away.

It is fantastic to see this spirit of co-operation.

Many thanks, I am still actively chasing local options (none so far) but will get back to you.
 
Johnnycnc is a member and has items for sale in the Most Valued Member Classifieds. You can look him up in the member list or PM him from his post. Oops I did not notice he had post about three above your post.[:I]
 
Hi,

And the best thing about Johnny is that he offered to get a B mandrel for you instead of trying to sell you his hown stuff. That's what i call real support !!!

Alfred
 
This will not exactly give you an adjustable mandrel; but it will do essentially the same thing.(Work with a short mandrel.)

Buy another "B" mandrel (or use the one you have) and get a 5/16"(or the metric equivalent) Morse taper collet. Then cut off the end of mandrel leaving whatever working length you desire + enough to go in the collet + a little extra (maybe 1/2") fore "wiggle" room. If you are working a very short barrel and can't tighten it down, you can make up a little spacer to take up any extra mandrel length. Here in the US, a single MT collet is only about $10. You will need a draw bar to hold the collet in place; but that can be made out of standard hardware and should only cost a couple of dollars.

10280007.gif
.........................
20056145259_eaglemed.jpg

Dallas, TX................................In Their Memory
 
I hadn't considered the MT collet with draw bolt until I saw them in a post this afternoon by jcollazo. I will certainly order a some of these in each size (A & B or 1/4 and 5/16).

I will still want the adjustable mandrel, as I find them very easy to use, particularly for acrylics. I have been making a few Sierras in acrylic and find that I can turn, then sand to 2000, then take the whole adjustable mandrel and acrylic blank out of the lathe, mount the polishing mop with white diamond paste and finish the job off on the mandrel. Having the acrylic blank on the mandrel gives me perfect control over it whilst polishing. I would not have that when I take the B shaft out of the MT collet. However that combo would work fine for wooden blanks as they get finished completely on the mandrel mounted in the lathe.

Thank you very much for all your suggestions.

The current state of play is that one of the members on the Oz forum, where I asked the same question, is travelling to the US in a fortnight and has kindly offered to pick up an adjustable B mandrel from Woodcraft and bring it back to OZ, then mail it to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom