Thread: JR Gentleman's Pen Kit problem

Sounds like your mandrel isn't long enough to fit both tubes on at once Arry.

Thats not a huge problem, just turn one piece at a time, just use a few spare bushes on each side so the nut can tighten up.

I use a short mandrel all the time, less flex that way.

Cheers but this confuses me:

https://www.timberbits.com/index.php...tachment_id=25

Which part confuses you?

arry sounds like you need to get a adjustable mandrel wil work for all lengths even a sierra from timberbits heres the link Pen Making :: Pen Making Tools :: Adjustable Pen Mandrel - Pen Kits, Pen blanks, Clock Kits and wood turning accessories. that will save all your problems

I see 3 bushings in the diagram, yet I received 4....

2 for the shorter wider tube and 2 for the longer thinner one?

Originally Posted by Arry

I see 3 bushings in the diagram, yet I received 4....

2 for the shorter wider tube and 2 for the longer thinner one?

no there is 4 in the pdf have a closer look at the middle one ( ones ) theres a line down the middle of the 2 for the top and 2 for the bottom

Each bushing I have looks like the silver area between the two tubes.

Does a section of the bushings go into the tube does it?

Arry I had a similar problem and rung David about it. He said he had some bushings that were drilled incorrectly and would not fit on the mandrel, he has since sent me a new set that fit fine. Give David a ring in the morning and I am sure he will sort it out for you.

Cheers Rumnut

Arry

Troy is right. You probably need an adjustable mandrel to extend the length and fit the whole kit onto the mandrel. You put the larger bushes into either end of the short tube and then put the smaller bushes into either end of the longer tube. Then you put both sections of blank with bushes onto the mandrel. The bigger bush and small bush just butt up against each other. A lot of the entire larger pen kits won't fit onto a standard mandrel, hendce the extendable. You can turn them one at a time but the problem then is getting them turned at the same thickness or shape. To do that you will need calipers. It will work out cheaper to buy the extendable mandrel. But keep en eye out for the Aldi tool sales as they have digital calipers for around $14 from time to time. They work well.

Just an aside. When you cut your blank into 2, mark it first so that you know which peices should face each other and then mark the tube inside when you drill them. That way you will match the grain. David from Timberbits explains it better in his video which you can find under CA use on his site.

greg

Arry this is the Baron same as Jnr Gent bushing set up sorry for terrible photo.

Have you removed the 3 7mm bushes for the Slimline???

As wheelin said have you removed the smalll slimline bushes from the mandrel ? Because without that there is noway that the full kit will fit on. Also yes part of the bush does go into the tube when you are using the bigger tube. It is only the slimline where the bushes just sit next to the tube. Also although it appears there are only 3 bushes there are infact 4 and they just sit back to back but in some cases this can all be just the one bush.

Cheers Ian

Cheers guys, after reading your comments I think it is the fact that I am not inserting part of the bushings into the tube.

I just had them sitting, butting up next to it.

I will have another crack tomorrow but that sounds like it do you think?

Sometimes the kits that have upper and lower bushings use three bushes sometimes 4 ,another that can be confusing and easily mixed up is the cigar kits ok if three bushes , but with 4 bushes the tubes are the same diameters and just be careful when setting up the bushes . It all gets easier in time hehe, cheers ~ John

Hey Arry,

As the guys have already said, it all takes time, and Practice and Practice and some more time, but you'll get there

If you ever need a hand just holler, and some one will help, Mandurah is just down the road if want to come and see how I get things done.

HazzaB