Thread: Help a Novice anyone?

Put up a picture of it mate but you will probably find like mine you need to put something through a hole in the headstock to completely knock that threaded part out then you will just have a big tapered hole left fot your mandrel to go in to.

I think the GMC lathe does not have a morse taper in the drive stock, it's solid. There is a way around it, Vermec make an adaptor but you would be looking at about a $ 100. ( Two years ago they quoted me $ 80)

There may be an engineering place that could drill it out other wise get another lathe, may be a better option, I did and I'm happy.


Peter.

Shoey

I bought a similar type of lathe when I first started pen turning. I couldn't get parts for it so it went straight back onto Ebay. After I sold it I bought a WoodFast Midi lathe which takes the mandrels and other gear you will need. That might be the best and cheapest option in the long run.

I don't know if GMC still sell lathes in Australia. Bunnings stopped stocking their products a couple of years ago.

Bugger! Oh well looks like I will sell it then.
Hopefully I will get my $120 back - then off to Carbatec for a new one.

Cheers
Shoey

Shoey ,I made my first hundred or so pens on one of these,my advantage was that as a fitter and turner with a metal lathe I was able to make an adapter that screwed onto the threaded spindle and had a morse taper for the mandrel . I paid about $100 at the local second hand dealer. If you can afford it get a variable speed machine as it will really help you when you get into the pen making ,we do quite a bit of speed changing in the course of our penmaking and it really helps keep things moving if you can cut back on down time ,like belt changing hehe, Another problem with that type is the tailstock has a pretty poor live centre and no drill chuck capacity (no morse taper in the tailstock ) I still have mine taking up valuable space ,just in case I ever decide to do some longer work Good luck with it all and I hope you get up and running without too much drama cheers ~ John

Hi Shoey
further down the coast ... and no wood turning shops to speak of either!!! But I certainly make do! Mail order and a credit card and watch me shop!!! Don't forget to also look at Timbecon (Perth), Hare and Forbes (Perth) and anyone selling Jet gear (here in Bunbury it is Bunbury Power tools and machinery, but there would be equivs. in the big smoke).... all sell lathes too and associated gear.

You are at the pointy end of an addiction ....

JD

Hey Shoey,

Just cut your losses and get a Woodfast Midi, about $350.00 from Carba-Tec, another couple for a Stand, Best $550.00 I ever spent, the ammount of times I have had to change speeds, you could count on one hand .
The little Woodie has a Morse Taper on both ends and if you buy a Mandrel and a Mandrel Saver, look out pen market, here you come

Just my two cents worth, (no affiliation with CT or Woodfast)

HazzaB

Hi Shoey. I second getting rid of your unsuitable lathe and investing in a Woodfast midi lathe from Carbatec. $399, bargain. Great lathe, very accurate, and comes with all basic accessories for general use. Perfect lathe for accurate pen making & will last many many years. You will need to get onto say, Timberbits to get a number 2 morse taper pen mandrel, and get a few turning tools like a 3/4" roughing gouge, and other stuff. Study up on the Timberbits web site re- info videos.

Shoey this what John was talking about, this is for a 3/4 x 16 universal mandrel. Universal Lathe Pen Mandrel Set: For Carba-Tec, Turncrafter Plus, Sears: 3/4"x16tpi at Penn State Industries

Originally Posted by bdar

Shoey this what John was talking about, this is for a 3/4 x 16 universal mandrel. Universal Lathe Pen Mandrel Set: For Carba-Tec, Turncrafter Plus, Sears: 3/4"x16tpi at Penn State Industries

shoey if you do want to buy one of these which is going to be the easist way but it from one of PENN STATE INDUSTRIES resellers as PSI chrged like a wounded bull for shipping ($40US) heres some resellers if its not listed on their site just email them and will get it and only charge flat rate shipping ($17US) if it will fit in a small flat rate carton

Wood-N-Whimsies | Page 1 of 1 and Pen Kits - WoodTurningz

Shoey - If you do decide on a new one - contact Woodfast on their website. They are cheaper to buy from than Carbatec if you have to pay shippage to both.

I already have a mandrel from Carbatec, so I might get my mate who is a fitter and turner to make me up a 3/4" attachment. If its no good, I will definatley upgrade to the carbatec one mentioned. I'm only 4.5 hours from Perth - just a Sunday cruise really! LOL

Cheers for all the help.

Shoey

Worth giving it a go ! just check the threads as they seem to vary from model to model , could be 19mm or anything else At least you can find out if you enjoy the pen turning without any large outlay ,also check the centre as it should be 60 degrees included to match the centre of the mandrel ,the wood centres seem to be a bit sharper so don't seat properly and give the best support for turning on the spindle ,don't forget sandpaper is your friend hehe, cheers ~ John

I had a similar lathe when starting. I used a 4-jaw chuck to hold the mandrel rod, it had no morse taper. It wasn't perfect but it did the job for long enough.