Off center barrels

[Perry]

Greetings,

I've been having a problem with off center barrels. I'm using a Jet mini-lathe. Has anyone else had this problem? When I part to the brass tube I get to the brass on one side and still have wood on the other. The finished pen has wood proud of the hardware on one side and short on the other. I've tried everything and the only thing I can come up with is the lathe is bad. Any help would be appriciated.

 

[timdaleiden]

This is a fairly common problem. Most likley the mandrel is bowed. This can be easily tested for, and corrected. Using a pencil rested on the tool rest, lightly touch the mandrel in several places while the lathe is running. You can then press the mandrel back to true.

Common causes for off center: Bent mandrel
Dirty Morse Taper hole
Knurled nut too tight
Tail stock pulled up too tight
Bad mandrel
Centers are off

I am sure there are others, but those are the ones that come to mind right now.

We really should get an article together for this problem.

 

[its_virgil]

Just as Tim said, but check out this:

http://woodturnerruss.com/Pen12a.html

Do a good turn daily!
Don

 

[ilikewood]

Tim got most of them. I had this trouble when I didn't get the blank squared to the drilled hole. Solved the problem with a good reamer/trimmer.

 

[Perry]

Thanks a bunch. The web site had all the info I need to do some testing. I have a dial micrometer with a magnetic base to do it with. I let you know what I find.

Perry