Pen Turning

bedef15 · Post by **bedef15** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:40 pm

Does Shopsmith sell mandrels for turning pens? Or a kit for turning pens? I do not need the turning tools, just the parts that hold the blank.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:09 pm

Do yourself a big favor and visit Penn State Industries website. There are a couple of shopsmith specific items you will need to start with. First is a mandrel http://www.pennstateind.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Search=pkm-cl&Store_Code=PSI&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PKM-CL

The second item you will need is a 60 degree live center. I believe the following link is the right one. Unfortunately I am not certain on this part number. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCENTLT2.html

The Penn State folks are very helpful and have many tools, assembly and finishing products to make pen making simple and rewarding. Good luck fjimp

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:13 pm

fjimp wrote:Do yourself a big favor and visit Penn State Industries website. There are a couple of shopsmith specific items you will need to start with. First is a mandrel http://www.pennstateind.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Search=pkm-cl&Store_Code=PSI&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PKM-CL

The second item you will need is a 60 degree live center. I believe the following link is the right one. Unfortunately I am not certain on this part number. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCENTLT2.html

The Penn State folks are very helpful and have many tools, assembly and finishing products to make pen making simple and rewarding. Good luck fjimp

On the live center make sure it is not made in China, I have had multiple bad experiences with them where the get extremely hot and burn out, sometimes warping the mandrel. One I got actually turned to be a dead center (it was so stuck when I got it the bearings would not turn at all).

If you plan on using the Shopsmith Universal Lathe Toolrest "Banjo" you will also need some kind of extender.

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:43 pm

shopsmith no longer offers a pen mandrel. they used to but no longer do. they do still offer a set of pen turning lathe tools. i am putting together a shopsmith pen mandrel, 7mm bushings, kits, blanks, and book to list for sale elsewhere next week.

kd6vpe · Post by **kd6vpe** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:43 am

I just got a PennStateInd. Mandel it is made in Taiwan but the quality looks good. I plan to try my first pen this weekend. I will let you know how it goes if I remember.

bedef15 · Post by **bedef15** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:59 pm

Thanks all!