Wade has made several predator call mandrels for me years ago. The first was a 5/8 x7/32. It is still in great shape, but used it a couple times and retired it. I then had him build me a 5/8x9/32" mandrel that I still use today, for my collet chuck. It was designed for 1 piece calls. with a 5/8 bore. I drill the call out on my metal lathe and slip it on this mandrel and it is great!
You can just use a 5/8 stub mandrel or expandable for the call, but this mandrel is so much more solid, and you get no annoying screeching or vibration at all like you can with the other setups.
Wade made it so that the 9/32" portion threads into the 5/8 part, so if you destroy the 9/32 rod, it can be easily replaced. I believe he made it from 9/32 drill rod threaded on both ends. It is used like a pen mandrel, thats how I designed it, for my calls. Wade perfected it. It also has a pin lock on it.
I have used it for like 8 years and it is still in great shape. Once you slide your blank up on it it is solid. You can get suprisingly aggressive with it without fear of bending it.
EDIT: I also will say I originally thought it was a one piece mandrel when I got it, and I contacted Wade because he had told me that it was going to be a 2 piece setup that he was building. He told me that it was in fact 2 peices.....the fit and finish was so good it fooled me
Hope that helps ya?
Mark
EDIT...I missed Wades explanation of the die threaded drill rod, which this is. Thanks Wade.
You can finish the exhaust end with this mandrel, but I chuck up a piece of 9/32 drill rod in a jacobs drill chuck and finish the other end sometimes.
