Shopsmith Forums

I am new to turning. Do I need a live center for the pen mandrel?...or how does the mandrel fit onto the dead or live center? I am anxious to put my toy to work....even if its a small project! (I need to be doing something w/ investment or else my wife will vote for a "project shutdown" at my house!!)

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

You can use either a live center or the penn state industries Mandrel saver.

I recommend starting with this thread. Pen Turning 101

I use the shopsmith specific mandrel from Penn State and the Mandrel saver.

You can also use standard 1/4" mandrels availble from lots of places.

Mount the mandrel to the head stock using one of the following methods:
The 5/8 socket for SS specific mandrels,
a 1/4" collet,
or the Jacobs chuck.

Slide the headstock with mandrel attached up to the tail stock.

If using a live center there is a dimple in the end of the mandrel where it contacts the live center.

If using a mandrel saver. The mandrel goes through the middle of the center and compresses the pen parts onto the mandrel in place of the compression nut.

Don't forget to lock the headstock back in place!!

Also search the forum for "Pen Turning". Lots of good advise here.

terrydowning wrote:Welcome to the forum.

You can use either a live center or the penn state industries Mandrel saver.

I recommend starting with this thread. Pen Turning 101

I use the shopsmith specific mandrel from Penn State and the Mandrel saver.

You can also use standard 1/4" mandrels availble from lots of places.

Mount the mandrel to the head stock using one of the following methods:
The 5/8 socket for SS specific mandrels,
a 1/4" collet,
or the Jacobs chuck.

Slide the headstock with mandrel attached up to the tail stock.

If using a live center there is a dimple in the end of the mandrel where it contacts the live center.

If using a mandrel saver. The mandrel goes through the middle of the center and compresses the pen parts onto the mandrel in place of the compression nut.

Don't forget to lock the headstock back in place!!

Also search the forum for "Pen Turning". Lots of good advise here.

I am new to pen turning also. Maybe 2 months. I found Pennstateindustries and they have a free dvd about pen turning. They also have quite a bit of stuff specifically for the SS. Im not real good yet but I've done about 20 pens , make sure the wife gets the first one, you won't be sorry. I started giving them to the women at work and my life got a lot easier. Enjoy it is fun.... when I turn something spectacular i'll share it. I think I might have shared 1 already but I can't remember. I suffer from CMS cant remember stuff. Being a newbie keep me in mind and we can share and new finds.. lol

This file documents my experience turning pens w/o a commercial mandrel.

Scan the file w/your virus scanner to be sure it is clean.