Angusga
Member
I like to use the mandrel saver in conjunction with the threaded shafts as I can tighten the blanks onto the mandrel with the lock nut and then use lighter pressure on my tailstock without having the blanks catching as easily. I'm ordering a mandrel today that adjusts length through a collet at the headstock. I'm going to make a mandrel saver that will thread onto the shaft with a 60 deg. end to receive a tailstock live center to help with concentricity while also bolstering the mandrel at the tailstock end. I may also make a mandrel saver that can attach to my One Way live center with a better fit over the threads on a mandrel. The fit of the 7mm pen tubes on these mandrels is less than ideal causing vibration and chatter especially on two piece blanks. I wish the mandrels were slightly bigger in their diameter. This is only problematic with the smallest 7mm pen tubes when turning a two piece blank. With a one piece blank I use shop made between center bushings.
I've made end and center bushing sets to use between centers with two piece blanks but get quite a bit of vibration with them and have to use excessive tailstock pressure. It does work but requires more sanding to remove the chatter and bring the blanks to concentricity than I'd like. It would be nice if the tool manufacturers addressed these issues more precisely.
What have some of you folks done to increase accuracy and concentricity?
I've made end and center bushing sets to use between centers with two piece blanks but get quite a bit of vibration with them and have to use excessive tailstock pressure. It does work but requires more sanding to remove the chatter and bring the blanks to concentricity than I'd like. It would be nice if the tool manufacturers addressed these issues more precisely.
What have some of you folks done to increase accuracy and concentricity?
