Replacement Mandrel rods

[asheddie]

Hi everyone. I have a Deluxe pen mandrel kit from Carba Tech. Deluxe Pen Mandrel 2MT : CARBA-TEC (http://www.carbatec.com.au/deluxe-pen-mandrel-2mt_c21867) I'm only new to pen turning and accidentally over tightened my tail stock and bent my mandrel. When I turn the blanks it ends up a bit oval shaped and cant get a even CA finish. I rang Carba tech to get a replacement rod but they only sell the whole kit. I see Timber Bits has replacement rods but he says they will only fit his mandrel. Since i have a collet chuck style mandrel kit wouldn't any 7mm rod work? I do have a metal lathe so making a rod wouldn't be hard but i think buying the steel would cost as much as a pre made one? Ive noticed people talking about mandrel savers, do they work? are there any good websites to buy them on line?
Cheers, Ash.

[dai sensei]

Replacement rods available from Timberbits Pen Making :: Pen Making Tools :: Mandrel Replacement Rod - Pen Kits, Pen blanks, Clock Kits and wood turning accessories. (http://www.timberbits.com/mandrel-replacement-rod.html)

[asheddie]

Replacement rods available from Timberbits Pen Making :: Pen Making Tools :: Mandrel Replacement Rod - Pen Kits, Pen blanks, Clock Kits and wood turning accessories. (http://www.timberbits.com/mandrel-replacement-rod.html)

These are the ones I saw but wasnt sure if they would work with the collet chuck? I guess its only $6.60, I may as well give it a try!

[dai sensei]

Yep, they will work with collet chuck, instead of screwing into morse taper you will be just gripping the rod itself

[plantagenon]

Ash

As Neil said, Timberbits will supply what you need. However, when you get into penturning a bit more it might be a good idea to think about dispensing with the mandrel and getting specific purpose made bushes for pens that don't need a mandrel. I have been penturning for about 12 months now and have learnt so much from the guys and ladies on this forum. I bent so many mandrels or clogged them up with CA that I recently got Fred (Big Shed) to make me the s/s bushes I need to use without a mandrel. They ensure a perfect round each time (depending on the turning abilities of the woodworker of course). But in the interim stick with the mandrels until you are ready to upgrade - just be gentle with tightening them. More to the point get yourself some delrin bushes for applying the CA as they will not stick to the tubes or the mandrel as will the metal bushes. They are cheap (around $10 for a multipurpose set) or you can make your own. Stick with the addiction.
Greg

[Pariss]

G'day Ash. Just a thought you may not be aware of, the mandrel rod hole, that your live center goes into is cone drilled at 60 degrees. You "Should" use a 60 degree live center fitted into your tail stock, so that the 2 surfaces mate up and hence cause little friction. Also, you have to think of this mating of the mandrel rod to the 60 degree live center is for basically just a 'steadying and guiding' action. You need very little pressure on the rod to steady it. To test the pressure on the rod, you should be able to easily turn the live center cone with 2 fingers when connected to the mandrel rod. Link to a 60deg carba-tec live center Premium 60° Live Centre : CARBA-TEC (http://www.carbatec.com.au/premium-60-live-centre_c21712)

[asheddie]

Cheers for the advice, I have ordered a couple of spare mandrel rods from timberbits. I have a metal lathe here so i will knock up some no mandrel bushes over the weekend, I didn't know they existed until today! I have a spare box with some dead centers, face plates etc from a old metal lathe in a box i put somewhere special... meaning i lost it!
so i thought bugger it, time to clean out the storage shed that got filled to the roof when i built my new shed late last year and find my box of goodies. Every thing came out, half is in a pile waiting to go to the dump and the other half is nicely stored away with enough room to walk down the center of the shed! still no box of spares???
I walked back to the main shed and it was right in front of me whole time, up in the storage rack... well at least i got the little she cleaned out! Turns out they are the wrong Morse taper anyway so looks like i need to order a new center before i can do any between center turning.
Well at least the better half is happy to have her storage space back and looks like its metal work for me this weekend.
Cheers, Ash.

[Treecycle]

Here is a link for the mandrel savers (http://www.cws.au.com/shop/item/pen-mandrel-saver-2mt). There is also a No.1 MT version if required. Just brought one last week but haven't had a chance to try it out, except for putting it in the lathe on a mandrel to spin it, and make sure the bearing was okay. A few people have complained that theirs was noisy. Mine was silent, so very happy.
I use one of David's collet chuck type mandrels and the rod fits perfectly in the mandrel saver - no slop. Buying the mandrel rod will be a lot less hassle than trying to make one as they are actually 0.005" smaller than 1/4".

[Gloriac]

Ash

More to the point get yourself some delrin bushes for applying the CA as they will not stick to the tubes or the mandrel as will the metal bushes. They are cheap (around $10 for a multipurpose set) or you can make your own. Stick with the addiction.
Greg

Hi Plantagenon - can you tell me where I can buy delrin bushes please? or how they can be made.
thanks
Gloria

[dai sensei]

I get my Delrin from this guy on Ebay: vpuriy items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores! (http://stores.ebay.com.au/vpuriy?_rdc=1) , then just make your own

[plantagenon]

Gloria

I got mine from Penturners in the USA for around $10 for 2 sets. I didn't buy the optional extras - mandrels etc

Login : Penturners Products! (http://penturnersproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_15&products_id=166&zenid=c850c567a22bef8f009e172f772a7c5a)

[Gloriac]

Thanks Plantagenon and Neil,

I will look at getting some of these bushes - not so much for the CA as I haven't had much success with using it, but to replace the metal bushes when finishing my pens and hopefully stop discolouring the wood from the metal.

Thanks again
Gloria

[Dorno]

I noticed Neil said he gets his Derilin from Ebay well I have been lucky enough to gt some frome the local CBC bearing place here in Newcastle from the scrap bin and it worked out Quite cheap but I just had to take whatever sizes they had which was fine to me so it may be worth looking around your local area.

Cheers Ian

[Big Shed]

I buy mine in 4mtr lengths from a company that specialises in industrial plastics, I get natural and black and keep 2 sizes of each colour in my rack.

[Gloriac]

We have a couple of bearing places locally, so I will try them first and if that fails I will be going across to Bendigo in a couple of weeks - do you get yours from Bendigo Fred?

Gloria

[Big Shed]

We have a couple of bearing places locally, so I will try them first and if that fails I will be going across to Bendigo in a couple of weeks - do you get yours from Bendigo Fred?

Gloria

No, I get it in Tullamarine when I go to Melbourne.

[Gloriac]

Ahh ok thanks for that - actually I am down there every couple of weeks to the airport (I have a fly in fly out son from WA) :D so I will investigate that avenue if the local guys can't help.
Many thanks
Gloria

[Big Shed]

This is the place.

E-Plas Engineered & Industrial Plastics - Contact Us (http://www.eplas.com.au/3066776/eplas-engineered-industrial-plastics-contact-.htm)

The stuff to ask for is Acetal, they will only sell it in 4mtr lengths, but will cut it in half to fit in the car:wink:

[Gloriac]

Many thanks :2tsup: :2tsup:

I looked up the link and Acetal - a whole different language for me:oo: :D:doh:
Cheers
Gloria

[dai sensei]

This is the place.

E-Plas Engineered & Industrial Plastics - Contact Us (http://www.eplas.com.au/3066776/eplas-engineered-industrial-plastics-contact-.htm)

The stuff to ask for is Acetal, they will only sell it in 4mtr lengths, but will cut it in half to fit in the car:wink:

How much are the 4m lengths Fred?

Mind you, I have accumulated a fair bit over the years and still have at least 2x1ft of each 12/16/20/25/30/40 rods :rolleyes:

[dabbler]

This place lists acetal rod in various lengths and dia. I'm not sure how competitive they are but they're just down the road from me (they're at Molendinar/Ernest) so they may be cheaper for me if they allow pickup.

Home, Holland Plastics, Plastic Fabrication, Gold Coast, Brisbane (http://www.hollandplastics.com.au/)

A quick google search suggests there are several places in Melbourne that sell the stuff.

[dabbler]

This place lists acetal rod in various lengths and dia. I'm not sure how competitive they are but they're just down the road from me (they're at Molendinar/Ernest) so they may be cheaper for me if they allow pickup.

Home, Holland Plastics, Plastic Fabrication, Gold Coast, Brisbane (http://www.hollandplastics.com.au/)

A quick google search suggests there are several places in Melbourne that sell the stuff.
Dropped in here today and picked up a 700mm of 25mm dia for $10.

The 25mm is normally $20/m and 20mm is $16/m (or $15 ?). Didn't ask about other sizes.
They can post if anyone's interested.

There were various lengths and diameters on the display shelves - mainly black - and they will cut, but I think there's a charge per cut. I just grabbed a shorter length. I suppose they had longer lengths out the back.

They also had a huge selection of clear acrylic products.

[rodent]

The mandrel savers are great we have 4 in our work shop .PS i put a spanner behind mine to eject it from the morse taper .