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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Tarniet, Victoria
    Posts
    7

    Default Ryobi Lathe (RWL350-G) and Mandrels

    Hi All,

    This is my first post so hopefully i have found the right spot to post this.
    I'm underway on a project creating a wooden photo album and pen for some friends who are getting married.
    I have invested in a RWL350-G lathe but the manual doesn't specify if the drive centre is a Morse Taper(i think thats what im trying to find) or not or what size if it is.
    I want to find the right mandrel to buy for it so that i can turn the pen for the gift, has anyone had any experience using this lathe and would know the size or if i need an adapter?
    Or just advice in general, i have emailed Ryobi to see if their technical spec experts know.

    Thanks in advance and apologies if this is in the wrong section.
    Clinton

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    ...
    Posts
    7,955

    Default

    I think the Ryobi lathe has a screw on drive centre onto a solid spindle. Thus you would need a special adapter to use a Morse taper mandrel.

    That kind of lathe is the cheapest of the cheapest and too light anyway for regular use. Best take it back to Bunnings and get a refund and save up for a better lathe.

    Peter.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default

    Welcome to a TOP FORUM. Would it be possible to make your location a little more precise, Victoria is a reasonably large state, PLEASE. Asking as someone close by may chime in and offer to assist you or even give you some tutoring on their lathe.
    Unfortunately your lathe is made by a factory that produces them for the lower end of the market, and it doesn't have a Morse Taper. I had one that was marketed by GMC, who are no longer around, Porsche is another brand name also. They are a VERY BASIC lathe, OK for turning small bowls and spindle work (between centres).
    Depending on the type of pen you're wanting to turn, it could be done on that lathe, I'd ask for someone local to you for some help, turning pens is a fine art and mistakes can be costly and FRUSTRATING, particularly if you're buying expensive blanks.
    The only way that you'll be able to fit a pen mandrel to it is to have an adaptor made for it. I can't remember what thread it is, but it would need a closed ended nut, similar to your spur drive that screws onto the threaded section, and that would need to be drilled and threaded to suit the mandrel. The other end (Tailstock) is permanently fitted with a live centre, so you won't be able to drill from there either.
    By the time you get someone willing enough to tackle this you'd be up for another $50 minimum, so to be honest, I'd look at getting something more suited, that has the Morse Taper headstock and Tailstock, you'll be a much happier turner too.
    What chisels are you planning to use??
    HTH
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,166

    Default

    a cheap 2nd hand lathe (eg Hafco WL-18) can usually be found for a few hundred bucks, so not much more than your current one, if you look.... There are smaller more professional lathes as well that come up less frequently and for a bit more money...

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Tarniet, Victoria
    Posts
    7

    Default

    I had seen the reviews from some saying it can't handle large pieces an such. But there were some positive reviews as well.
    It is cheap an was within my budget, so far it's been fine for the test runs I've done on pine and some red wood, though nothing over 40 CMS.
    Have tried a heavier log that I hadn't centred yet to see how it would handle it and found I need to weigh the bench I made for it down. Haven't tested with the same log evened out so that it spins dead centre though.

    I'm willing to give this one a chance and see though as I have no problem with manual speed changes, but if it does become a problem I'll take your advice and return it.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Tarniet, Victoria
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Hi Kryn,

    I'll update that when I'm at my PC, phone version won't let me access my profile. Located in Tarneit.

    I'm looking at a JR Fountain pen kit to assemble and am yet to pick a wood as I'm also making a photo album.

    Yeah I thought I might need an adaptor when I assembled it, Ryobi emailed me an said it's a threaded m18-2.5mm, do the make generic adaptors? I was thinking of trying to find a new tail stock to screw in but would probably be difficult to find the right size.

    I have watched a couple of videos of turning pens without a mandrel so it would be harder an require constant measuring but will give that a shot before returning it.

    Starting with the provided chisels but will upgrade eventually.

    Thanks,
    Clinton

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    A.C.T
    Age
    89
    Posts
    2,769

    Default

    Perhaps you could get a screw on collet chuck then use a simple mandrel shaft for your pens.

    Peter.
    Nil Desperandum

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,556

    Default

    Clinton, my first lathe was a proxxon DB250, miniature lathe (stupidly almost the same price as a carbatec basic) but space was an issue. it also came with EVS from 500 - 3k. it too doesn't have a tapered chuck, what it does have though is 1 a collet system with 4/6/8/10mm, yet a pen mandrel is closer to 1/4inch. I found that I could use the MT1 mandrel and with the tail stock up and snug (do not over tighten as shaft will bend and give you an oliptical pen) or use a mandrel saver (preferred option).

    so in essence, you can use a morse tapered pen mandrel, just measure the size of the opening of the spindle and see which will fit in either MT1 or MT2.(preferably most of the taper is inside not outside). It wont move as pressure from tail stock will keep in place.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Tarniet, Victoria
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Thank-you to everyone that responded, I practised on the Ryobi lathe with a few different pieces to see how it wood (pun intended) handle.
    Some small pieces of Pine handled fine and then upped to a 10-12cm diameter gum about 40cm long, it initially made the bench jump as it wasn't quite centred.
    After evening it up I was making great progress with it and practising, however now the tool rest has begun moving due to the vibrations no matter how much i tighten it (including a slight wobble at the top where i can't tighten it)

    So now that its a safety hazard im going to return it, but thought I'd at least try it out first an see.

    Thanks to those who suggested other models, i'll have a look into them.

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