PSI or Rockler mandel for pen turning?

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:50 pm

I believe at least one person here has the PSI mandel for doing pen turning -- anyone tried using a Rockler equiv on the Shopsmith and care to comment? I gather the Rockler adjustable model is not good but the fixed sounds like it might be OK .. Comments?

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:22 pm

osx-addict wrote:I believe at least one person here has the PSI mandel for doing pen turning -- anyone tried using a Rockler equiv on the Shopsmith and care to comment? I gather the Rockler adjustable model is not good but the fixed sounds like it might be OK .. Comments?

I have used the PSI mandrel's on my shopsmith as has my brother with fine success. Actually the PSI Shopsmith version seemed to be the only price and quality option for a long time. I use a number of rockler products. I must confess that their "special" or lower priced items have let me down on several occassions. Their mandrel I am totally unfamiliar with. Once I find something that works I tend stick with it so am unlikely to switch. Jim

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:38 pm

osx-addict wrote:I believe at least one person here has the PSI mandel for doing pen turning -- anyone tried using a Rockler equiv on the Shopsmith and care to comment? I gather the Rockler adjustable model is not good but the fixed sounds like it might be OK .. Comments?

The rockler adjustable model will not work on a shopsmith because the adjustable part is the MT2 portion. The shopsmith has an MT2 hole on the tailstock, but not the headstock. The rockler one needs the MT2 on the headstock.

Easiest would be to get the PSI mandrel and then a mandrel saver MT2 tailstock piece - that will give you everything you need. The mandrel saver is not required, but nice to have.

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:52 pm

I was also thinking about their kit with the mandel saver as well.. I did buy (a while back) a PSI morse taper adapter if that helps... I just figured I'd check since I've got a local Rockler that's literally a 5 minute drive which would satisfy my instant gratification, but in this case that may not be good enough -- particularly if the job can't be done...

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:01 am

osx-addict wrote:I was also thinking about their kit with the mandel saver as well.. I did buy (a while back) a PSI morse taper adapter if that helps... I just figured I'd check since I've got a local Rockler that's literally a 5 minute drive which would satisfy my instant gratification, but in this case that may not be good enough -- particularly if the job can't be done...

If you have a 1/4" router chuck you can use a regular mandrel from rockler. Just unscrew the MT part from the shaft and then chuck up the shaft in the router chuck.