Author Topic: Pen Mandrel Recommendation  (Read 5619 times)

Offline clintfaas

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Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« on: November 05, 2014, 09:05:13 PM »
Sorry if this has been asked before... I'm wanting to dive, or wade, off into pen making.  Can anyone recommend a good mandrel to start off with?  I've looked at some but it can get overwhelming.   I was leaning towards a kit for starters that I saw at either Woodcraft or Rockler (can't remember).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Offline David @ Mad Duck Game Calls

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2014, 09:33:11 PM »
I got the cheaper Mt 2 one from woodcraft, I wanted the adjustable one (more expensive) but they were out.....  It has worked ok for what I've done. I kinda got burned out on pens, but they sell quick.....
David
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Offline dogcatcher

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2014, 09:54:30 PM »
I prefer to use the PSI adjustable mandrel, http://www.woodnwhimsies.com/product575.html
$16.50 http://www.woodnwhimsies.com/cgi-woodnwhimsies/sb/productsearch.cgi?storeid=*1edabaf4e00ad84876c025d7759ea5a083&search_field=mandrel  Make sure you get the correct MT for your lathe.  If you are just starting out, Wood n Whimsies is a reseller for PSI, their prices are also better than PSI.  For kit pens it is my go to place, for fancy kitless pens I get most of that from Exotics. 

If you have a collet chuck, buy the mandrel and the knurled nut, you will save yourself a few dollars.  I prefer the MT, because I don't have to mess with changing out the collet in the collet chuck.  You only save about $3, so it's not enough to say I saved some money.

Marvin
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Offline Joe Short

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2014, 10:08:51 PM »
"We have a lot of great call makers in NC. Maybe more call makers than ducks." - JCZ

Offline jcz

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2014, 08:31:50 AM »
http://www.woodnwhimsies.com/product575.html
This is the same MT mandrels Marvin posted.

This is the mandrel saver. It allows you to do away with the kurled nut on the end.
http://www.woodnwhimsies.com/product492.html
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Offline clintfaas

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2014, 11:00:19 AM »
I like the idea of the mandrel saver!  Thanks for the info so far.  Is there a difference in buying the mandrel and saver vs. the combo that Joe posted?  Seems to me like the only difference is the woodnwhimsies mandrel has a built-in collet for adjusting the length.  I assume with the other one you just slide the madrel through the saver? 

So if i just go this route, do I then just buy the parts kits and the associated bushings for that style kit?

http://www.woodnwhimsies.com/product575.html
This is the same MT mandrels Marvin posted.

This is the mandrel saver. It allows you to do away with the kurled nut on the end.
http://www.woodnwhimsies.com/product492.html

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKMS2SET.html
That's as easy as it gets.
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Offline jcz

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2014, 11:54:01 AM »
Honestly I didn't even look at the link Joe put up. Go with the cheaper of the options. Both mandrels are the same. You don't need to adjust the collet with the mandrel saver.
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Offline Joe Short

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2014, 12:47:58 PM »
I've never used any of the other mandrels aside from the mandrel saver combo but it's hard to imagine any of the other options being simpler to use or more quickly adjusted. For pens, you really only need the mandrel you choose, drill bits, and kits. If you can turn a pen, you can turn your own bushings thereby saving $4+ for each different kit you make.
"We have a lot of great call makers in NC. Maybe more call makers than ducks." - JCZ

Offline Wane

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2014, 09:07:08 PM »
The bushings are steel and designed to fit the pen kit that you are turning so when you are dine the diameter of the barrel fits the diameter of the pen that you are building so I would recommend getting the bushings for the kits you are making to get a good fit without having to keep measuring with every pass you make when you get down close. Leave a little wood for sanding so you end up with the right diameter. If your diameter gets to small they are not very comfortable to use.
Wane

Offline dogcatcher

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2014, 09:54:52 PM »
If you order from Wood n Whimsies their November coupon savings is $2 off on a $25 order.  Use 2OFF at checkout time. 

On the bushings, if you are good with calipers and know what you are doing making pens, you can get by without the bushings.  If you are new, I would recommend spending the few dollars, it can be cheaper and a lot easier than screwing up a few tubes during the learning process.  Or you can learn how to turn between centers with custom bushings and forget about buying a mandrel.  I also would recommend spending some time on IAP, they have all kinds of info, spend some time reading and taking notes.  Some of them are professionals, they make a living making and selling pens.

Marvin
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Offline clintfaas

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Re: Pen Mandrel Recommendation
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2014, 09:52:57 AM »
Lots of good info.  Thanks for the help!  I spent some time yesterday on IAP.  To say there is a lot of info there is an understatement!!  I bookmarked their intro to penturning page and need to go back through it.  I've also been through quite a bit here about them.  I don't want to take away from my learning process on calls but I read over and over to turn other things and it will help in your call making/overall quality of work.  I thought this was a great time to start!
"Nature is an open book for those who care to read. Each grass-covered hillside is a page on which is written the history of the past, conditions of the present and the predictions for the future." -- J. E. Weaver