Kirk, the wood is buckeye burl, as to the no mandrel method here is where I got the idea from.
http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24156&SearchTerms=how,to,turn,a,closed,end,pen
This worked so well for me that I consider it a no brainer, why go out and buy several mandrels to be able to turn other style kits.
As to the modification of the center band I had borrowed some parts from this kit some time ago and and just threw it back in the bin.I decided that I can save this kit yet so I made a aluminum washer from a coke can, reason for the modification and also the closed end.
Also thanks to Gerryr his comments and design had alot to do with this.
Thanks for the comments