Mandrel advice

[feeneypens]

Ok, so I made this body to fit a refill for making a custom pen but the angle is slightly off because I had trouble starting my holes while drilling on the lathe using a drill chuck. Any advice on things to check to debug this?

 

[dow]

Ok, so I made this body to fit a refill for making a custom pen but the angle is slightly off because I had trouble starting my holes while drilling on the lathe using a drill chuck. Any advice on things to check to debug this?

1. Make sure you have a square face on the end of the blank before drilling. If it's not square, the bit will wander. Use a parting tool to dress up the face.
2. Use a center drill to start your hole in the blank. If you don't have one, head down to Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, or check with JohnnyCNC. They're readily available, and pretty cheap.
3. Make sure your bits are sharp. Also, don't get in too big of a hurry to drill, especially in wood. Goofy grain can make your drill bits wander, and that can make for crooked holes.
4. I drill on the lowest speed the lathe will run, and clean the hole out every 3/8-1/2" or so. If you're drilling in acrylic, then you need to keep the blank and bit cool (or at least NOT hot). I use WD-40 for that, because I can shoot it in the hole in the blank with the straw and not get all over everything... that and it doesn't cause my lathe to rust like water would. I've read where people use alcohol as well.

Hopefully some of this is of use to you. Good start, by the way.

 

[feeneypens]

Great ideas, thanks!...but now I just found out WHY it seemed off center...the refill was bent! LOL! I guess it was straight after all! But I definitely need to get those things you mentioned from Harbor Freight. Thanks again!