Mandrel types and where to get them

[lwilliams]

I am in the need of a few different sizes of mandrels and am not sure where to pick them up.  I know Flint Hill but his site is down.  I also hear a lot about pin mandrels but have never seen them.  I need a 9/32 mandrel to finish up on predator calls and 5/8 I believe for my open reeds.  Any information someone can give me would be most appreciated.

Thank you,

LWILLIAMS

[Braz]

i have no idea waht you wojld do with a 9/32" mandrel. just usehe 9/32" hole to tighten the larger mandrel iin he bell end. I would suggest you go with he flin hill mandrels. He will return and that's the time to get the mandrels.

[Vince at VECtor Calls]

I would personally make your own wooden mandrels and bolt mandrels, and use them til Flint Hills is back up and running, but that's just me.

It will be hard to get someone to make you a 9/32 mandrel that is much better than one you could make yourself with a bolt.  I'm no mandrel aficionado though. 

Parker

[Wade@WEBFoot]

Ive made a few 9/32 mandrels for coyote call guys...  one was a pin mandrel, and it worked, but really didnt hold all that well.  You had to be really light to the touch with the tools.  I never heard how long it lasted though...

I also made a few crush lock versions for a couple guys...  at first, it was a flop because of the flex causing stress cracking at the point where the 9/32 stepped up to the larger diameter.  9/32 was just too small and flexed too much.  So I did some more homework and came up with a couple ways that seem to reduce the effects of the flex...   If one has collet chuck, and can handle having the blank held up against the face of the collet chuck, something can be made fairly easy with some 9/32 drill rod, a center drill, and a threading die. 

I still dont think the pin version is very viable because of the small diameter... but it can be done with a 1/16" pin.

Ive got various mandrels on my site if you want to look at some pictures of the various ones.

Cheers
Wade

[Final Strut Custom Game Calls]

For my closed reed calls I have started using the 1/2" rubber bushings instead of the reed sleeves that way I can use a 1/2" expanding mandrel which some guys have pointed out you can get through McMaster Carr as well as Enco since Flinthills is down for now.

Before I switched to the bushings I turned my closed reeds on a 1/4" pen mandrel using tapered bushings on the bell end and a 1/2" bushing on the mouth piece end to push it out from the collet nut. You will need to take light cuts because like Wade said you will get some flex if your not careful. After I got them turned and finished I would ream them out with a 9/32 drill bit andthen put a couple coats of thin CA on the inside with a Qtip. Put the sleeve in and your good to go.

[Jon Kennedy Custom Calls]

I make expanding mandrels that expand out on the total inside of you're barrel, what I mean by that is that on some of the other expanding mandrels they only expand on the last 1" of the barrel the ones that i have expand on the total inside surface of the barrel, no more cracking of barrels due to over tightening of the bolt on the end of the mandrel.

[BigB]

Check out this link. It has pictures of different mandrels and chucks


http://thogamecallsforums.com/index.php/topic,1215.msg11586.html#msg11586



Brian

[lwilliams]

The 9/32 mandrel would only be used for sanding.  There would be no cutting of wood on this.  How do you make the wood and bolt mandrels?

[Final Strut Custom Game Calls]

With such a small diameter I think you will get way to much flex with any kind of wood mandrel.

As far as the bolt mandrel goes they are super easy. Just take like a 6" long 9/32 bolt and cut the head off. Chuck it in a Jacobs chuck in the head stock or a collet chuck if you have one that will fit (use the collet chuck if you have one. It will make drilling much easier.) and using a center drill, drill the threaded end of the bolt to receive your live center. Your good to go. Turn a couple of bushings to keep your call centered on the mandrel put a nut on the threaded end and snug it up and sand away.

[lwilliams]

I will try the bolt mandrel for my 9/32 and once Flint hill opens back up I will get a 5/8" expandable on the way.  Where can a guy buy pin mandrels in the mean time.

[Final Strut Custom Game Calls]

P.M. on the way

[dogcatcher]

How about posting some photos of the call, both ends and a side view.  Also list the drill bit sizes that you used.  There has to be an easier way to do this than creating a mandrel.

Marvin

[Crawdad at TripleGCalls]

I make expanding mandrels that expand out on the total inside of you're barrel, what I mean by that is that on some of the other expanding mandrels they only expand on the last 1" of the barrel the ones that i have expand on the total inside surface of the barrel, no more cracking of barrels due to over tightening of the bolt on the end of the mandrel.

   Got any pictures???

[lwilliams]

I dont have any pictures of the top end, but the center hole is drilled 9/32 in order to fit the reed sleeve.  I turn on a 3 jaw chuck and live center then drill the 9/32 hole and then step drill the end.  Sometimes I finish the ends sometimes I just leave them step drilled.  I have not come up with a very good way to finish sand the outside as well as the mouthpiece end as that is where I cut the call off of the blank.  Hope these pictures help but I can get some new ones tonight when I get home.

Thank you,

LWILLIAMS

[Prairie Game Calls]

Minnesota what sizes do you make?

Larry