Thread: GMC Pen Lathe

Beleive me after a GMC a mini lathe is just a honey. YOu will love it...but that pretty good thinking way to go enjoy making your pens
bye
TOni

yeah, get a mini.

Chris if you do go after a mini, go for a good one. As with anything it comes down to $$$, I run a VL100 because I like Vicmarc lathes. I also have one of the first Carb-a-tec mini lathes which is about 10 years old I think and is still running like a dream. You have Delta which are a fine machine and Jet also have a pen lathe but the mini lathe is a bit bigger and a bit more versatile.

I have the JET Mini lathe and it is a beauty, you wont regret the extra dosh spent on it!!

Good thinking, Chris.

As has been said, a mini makes it a more enjoyable process, but buying ones' an expensive way to find out if you really want to turn pens. Is that a normal mandrel with the MT replaced by a bit of threaded tube for the chuck to grip?

It's a bit hard to tell when it's all assembled.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Good thinking, Chris.

As has been said, a mini makes it a more enjoyable process, but buying ones' an expensive way to find out if you really want to turn pens. Is that a normal mandrel with the MT replaced by a bit of threaded tube for the chuck to grip?

It's a bit hard to tell when it's all assembled.

Hi Skew,

It's the MT that came with the mandrel, and I'm gripping a 2.5 mm parrallel land. It's not the best arrangement, as I end up with nuckles and/or fingers getting really close to the chuck jaws. I've got just that little bit too close twice now, and it's a blurry painful experience.

I'm trying to find a local shop, that can make me up a tempory adapter. eg a piece of 10mm silver steel, with a 1/4" clearance hole for the mangrel shaft. Then I'll chuck up a 10mm drill chuck into the 4 jaw, and hold the adapter in it. This'll get me well away from the 4 jaw, and I'll feel a lot more comfortable when I'm turning a pen.

Definitely hooked on pen turning, and am currentl accumulating funds for a mini.