Live center

Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.

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roy_okc
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Re: Live center

Post by roy_okc »

There are a couple pen mandrels available that are designed for the Shopsmith. Here's one from PSI: https://www.amazon.com/PSI-Woodworking- ... 365&sr=8-2

Also, do yourself a favor and get a mandrel saver tail something like these (the SS takes a #2 Morse taper in the tail stock): https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=mandrel+sa ... _sb_noss_1

Way back when I did some pen turning on the SS, I don't think either the SS specific mandrel existed, nor the saver. I removed the rod from the MT end, chucked it in my drill chuck and ran the other end against a live end. I think I ended up with 2 or 3 of the mandrels, all bent a little.
Roy

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propwash
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Re: Live center

Post by propwash »

Hobbyman2 wrote: Tue Nov 30, 2021 5:17 am I am not a pen turner but don't most pen turners use a mandrel ? https://www.amazon.com/pen-mandrel/s?k=pen+mandrel
Yes we do and I have that setup, but not what I want.
Thanks for the help.
Danny
propwash
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Re: Live center

Post by propwash »

roy_okc wrote: Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:48 am There are a couple pen mandrels available that are designed for the Shopsmith. Here's one from PSI: https://www.amazon.com/PSI-Woodworking- ... 365&sr=8-2

Also, do yourself a favor and get a mandrel saver tail something like these (the SS takes a #2 Morse taper in the tail stock): https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=mandrel+sa ... _sb_noss_1

Way back when I did some pen turning on the SS, I don't think either the SS specific mandrel existed, nor the saver. I removed the rod from the MT end, chucked it in my drill chuck and ran the other end against a live end. I think I ended up with 2 or 3 of the mandrels, all bent a little.
Yes, I have those and use them for pens. I'm trying a different moster idea.
Thanks for the help.
Danny
propwash
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Re: Live center

Post by propwash »

reible wrote: Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:51 pm I've not used a drive like was pictured. One thing to remember is that the shopsmith doesn't have a method to use MT type tools on the head stock side ie the drive side.

I have a couple of tools that I use and while not quite what was ask about they do work for turning and have no spurs. First is the common mandrel as was mentioned. That works well and is pretty inexpensive to start with. I easy improvement is to get a better tail stock that has a through hole and bearings.

Then there are systems like this:

ms1.jpg

This starts with collet system to hold the drive side so that alone runs some money and this is not commonly used system but does work on the shopsmith as shown.

This is drive I designed and had built for me:

ms2.jpg

It has seen better days, I really should clean it up but it too is a drive center that I use in the 1/2" router chuck shopsmith sells.

Lots of way to do the same thing.

Ed
That's close to what I want. Then I found this;
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKMBCM3.html

More what I want.
Thanks for the help.
Danny
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MikeG
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Location: Fort Wayne, IN

Re: Live center

Post by MikeG »

This is what I made for turning between centers:
viewtopic.php?t=12557&p=143120#p143120
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reible
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Location: Aurora, IL

Re: Live center

Post by reible »

propwash wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 8:13 pm
reible wrote: Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:51 pm Then there are systems like this:

ms1.jpg

This starts with collet system to hold the drive side so that alone runs some money and this is not commonly used system but does work on the shopsmith as shown.

That's close to what I want. Then I found this;
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKMBCM3.html
More what I want.
Thanks for the help.
Danny
That what is pictured in the first photo, with attached collet system. I would have to check but I think I used that since the shaft is 3/8" and I don't have a router chuck for the shopsmith that size.


Ed
{Knight of the Shopsmith} [Hero's don't wear capes, they wear dog tags]
propwash
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Re: Live center

Post by propwash »

reible wrote: Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:36 pm
propwash wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 8:13 pm
reible wrote: Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:51 pm Then there are systems like this:

ms1.jpg

This starts with collet system to hold the drive side so that alone runs some money and this is not commonly used system but does work on the shopsmith as shown.

That's close to what I want. Then I found this;
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKMBCM3.html
More what I want.
Thanks for the help.
Danny
That what is pictured in the first photo, with attached collet system. I would have to check but I think I used that since the shaft is 3/8" and I don't have a router chuck for the shopsmith that size.


Ed
I see that now, it's being held by a collet. I didn't realize that until you told me again. :)
Thanks
Danny
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rpd
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Re: Live center

Post by rpd »

Some things to check out.

A thread by Terry Downing on turning between centers
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11705&p=131960&hili ... bc#p131960

This is one that reible posted using Shopsmith router chucks and a router centering tool.
viewtopic.php?p=123402#p123402

And another
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12594&p=174321&hili ... bc#p174321
Ron Dyck
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