Thread: Which pen mandrel to buy?

I believe they are probably the same - the "7mm" version is used to make a pen with 7mm barrels (the standard for slimline twist pens), and the actual shaft is likely thinner. Someone can correct me if this isn't so. I've had several different pen mandrels and all have used the same size shaft.
You might also consider a mandrel saver - used to prevent the shaft bending when tightening your blanks for turning.
Good hobby - enjoy!
phil

I suspect it’s as Phil says. Same thing just calling it a different way.
As far as I know, all the standard mandrels on the market will have a 1/4” rod , which translates to 6.35mm, theses all suit the 7mm tubes on the Slimline pens and the variants, it also suits the bushes you will buy to turn the other brass tubes of all the other pen kits, the bushes will have a 1/4” hole drilled in them.
I haven’t used a store bought mandrel in many years, but if I was to buy one today, I would be looking at one of those collet type ones that you can adjust the length of the rod sticking out to suit the length of the blank.

most bushes you will use will suit the 7mm mandrel ie they will have the necessary step up bushes if needed, don't get one where you can't adjust the mandrel in or out to suit the project.

I'm only new to pen turning so take this with a grain of salt but a mandrel saver isn't a big outlay and it both cancels the possible error of over tightening the tailstock if you're using a live center to steady the far end of the mandrel (possibly bowing the mandrel and ending up with a pen that isn't straight) and makes an adjustable mandrel unnecessary as you can slide the mandrel saver over any length of unused mandrel.

I have this one- PSI Pen Mandrel with MT2 | Carbatec

It's one of those things that you don't strictly need but are very nice to have as it makes at least one aspect of pen turning idiot proof, so to speak, and as a newbie I'll take any advantage I can get.

Thank you Gentlemen, for the prompt response. After I asked the question I found a rather long but informative video from the USA with a workshop about as big as my house and it seems that there are reducing bushes to go between the various size pen tubes and the standard 6.35mm mandrel shaft. Perhaps Carbatec should include the word "suits" in the description of the tool?
Just looking at the options available from Carbatec and H&F, I may be better off going with the H&F mandrel (which has the adjustable shaft length and is cheaper than the equivalent from Carbatec) and putting the savings towards the mandrel saver. But there is more research to do now that I know what I am looking for.
Thanks for the advice.

I just had a look on the GPW website, there are a couple of options there Pen Making Tools

Also check out the Timberbits and Carrols websites.

Timberbits has a 15% off sale on at the moment so check their prices against what you have already found. Carroll's will open again on Tuesday too.

Or go really nuts - Ultra-Shear Pen Mandrel System and Precision Pen Turning Bushings

Well RSD, while that is very nice and would be considered to be almost essential to some "financially advantaged" pen makers , at US$140.00 plus taxes and freight, I think I will go for something less flamboyant (and cheaper too!). But thank you for the info. It's got me thinking about how I could build something similar.....If I only had a metalworking lathe.