Thread: Cones instead of bushes.. Yes or No?

I saw a thread on this some time back John be interested to try them myself.

Edited John the only pen I see a problem with is the Gemini Kit from 043turning which has one bush extra long as it pushes an insert up into the barrel.

Can be done John just have to use a micrometer or vernier to get the sizes right or a very fine champher.

Iwould be worried about tightening the tailstock a tad too much and flairing the ends of the tubes.

I use the standard bushes to turn, but then the cones to final sand/CA/polish to avoid stuffing the std bushes. I'm still using the cutting board cones, but have some Delrin rod to make new ones when the others give up.

Originally Posted by munruben

.....he uses "Cones" instead of bushes to turn his blanks down to the correct size. Of course you can make cones yourself very easily....

Hey John, that sounds like a great idea..are the cones made of metal or a hardwood? If the latter, I guess they become a consumable that can be tossed after one or two pens?
Cheers

Would a dead centre/live centre not work as cones as they are?

I use them for finishing work. need to clean the CA off at the end though, which is not overly difficult.

Cheers,
Dave

I also use between centres for finishing, which I find a lot better than trying to get the bushes back out with CA holding them in.
I would be a bit worried about turning the blank down to finished size without the bush to support the end of the blank,
I would think it might be easier to chip out the ends, especially with Xcut blanks, my 2c worth anyhow.

I have made some cones from Delrin for another forum member and made some for myself as well.

Must say I prefer using my between centres Delrin bushes, for each kit I use I turn up a set of stainless steel between centres bushes and a set of Delrin/acetal bushes.

Once you have turned with the bewteen centres bushes you will never go back to the standard mandrel bushes and the Delrin/acetal bushes make it easy to separate the blank after CA finishing.

I generally use bushes and then cones turned from hardwood for applying ca and polish. Recently I have done a few doing the whole process between centres. I use a normal live centre but for the headstock end have been using the cone type piece from a pen dismantling kit held in a four jaw chuck. Bit short, but get by, size it down with verniers, works for me until I get around to something a bit more sophisticated.
I have not had any problems with flaring of the end of tubes etc.

Originally Posted by GoGuppy

Hey John, that sounds like a great idea..are the cones made of metal or a hardwood? If the latter, I guess they become a consumable that can be tossed after one or two pens?
Cheers

The ones I was shown were just timber glued to the slimline brass tube so you could use the standard mandrel. Apparently you just glue the timber over the brass tube and then turn a cone from each end into the centre and when the two points meet; cut the tube at that point and then you have two cones that slip onto the mandrel but will insert into the larger bored blanks.

Originally Posted by Simomatra

Can be done John just have to use a micrometer or vernier to get the sizes right or a very fine champher.

Thanks for that Sam.

Originally Posted by artme

Iwould be worried about tightening the tailstock a tad too much and flairing the ends of the tubes.

Gently does it Arthur

For finishing I reckon they will be a winner

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Edited John the only pen I see a problem with is the Gemini Kit from 043turning which has one bush extra long as it pushes an insert up into the barrel.

Will make a note of that Ray

Originally Posted by wheelinround

For finishing I reckon they will be a winner

I think I will give it a try both for turning to the correct size and finishing. See what happens.