Any one make their own mandrel?

[Haynie]

While I am waiting for mine to show up I was getting impatient and wondered if anyone has made their own mandrel. If so how did you do it?

I have been messing with long bolts and washers. hard to find some that fit the bushings.

 

[TerryDowning]

I have used 1/4 - 20 all thread but it is less than desirable. The metal is soft and going out of round is very easy.

I use a drill chuck in the head stock and a PSI Mandrel saver in the tail stock. It works OK, but is soft and you have to watch the pressure on it during turning.

 

[Lenny]

You could always get a 60 degree dead center (you should already have a 60 degree live center... hopefully) and a short tool rest and give turning between centers a try.

http://content.penturners.org/library/techniques/turningbetweencenters.pdf

 

[rizaydog]

I would just wait for the mandrel. If you have a lot of kits and blanks, you could always cut, drill, glue in the tubes, and trim the ends while you wait.

 

[mredburn]

I have turned my own out of cold rolled steel. I made them up not to turn pens on. but to mount the turned blanks for finishing when I use a "wipe on Poly" for the finish. If you have a metal lathe or the skills to make your own madrel you have the skills to turn them between center and eliminate the mandrel and the out of round issues it can cause.

 

[randyrls]

While I am waiting for mine to show up I was getting impatient and wondered if anyone has made their own mandrel. If so how did you do it?

I have been messing with long bolts and washers. hard to find some that fit the bushings.

There is a Woodcraft in Chandler and Tucson; might be worth a road trip!

 

[holmqer]

I use "D" drill rod in a collet chuck

 

[Haynie]

While I am waiting for mine to show up I was getting impatient and wondered if anyone has made their own mandrel. If so how did you do it?

I have been messing with long bolts and washers. hard to find some that fit the bushings.

There is a Woodcraft in Chandler and Tucson; might be worth a road trip!

very long trip. 6-9 hours one way depending on which I choose :frown:

I think I was sick the day they taught "good things come to those who wait".