'Fixing' out-of-round

[Gizmo3k]

Morning all,

Anyone got any tips for fixing or disguising an out-of-round pen?

My mandrel is (very slightly) bent, and while I look for a new one I can't really turn any pens. I do have one rounded out already, and am wondering if I can save it.

My only thought so far was to loosen the grip on the bushings and rotate the wood pieces 180 degrees on the mandrel, then tighten it up again, I only seem to have one high and one low point on the wood, so if I then shave off the high part near to where it meets the metal pen parts, it might just disguise it enough.

Am I clutching at straws here, or is it worth a shot?

cheers

Alan

 

[bellringer]

Have you got a dead center and a live center if so turn bettween centers

 

[Woody]

Theres your answer as Alex says

 

[Gizmo3k]

Sadly not, got a spur drive and a live centre, but it isn't a 60 deg live centre - it has a little point coming out of a recess.

When turning between centres, do you bother with bushings at all, or just stick the points into the brass tubes? I guess you would have to be careful not to apply too much pressure and bend the outsides of the tubes outwards.

Thanks

Alan

 

[Woody]

If you haven't got a dead centre you can make one with a good bit of hard wood either with a Mt or just a round one to hold in your chuck also your revolving centre turn a bit of hard wood to fit over your old one and turn a point on that regarding your question you can use the bushes or just go direct into the tube

 

[rayf6604]

If you want get yourself a dead centre look on eBay you can get one for about a fiver. Live centres are about 18. Also you can buy these things from chronos direct
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk

 

[PhillH]

Not all bushes will work between centres though folks, or am I being thick?

The razor bushes from T/R are just a cylinder, no step to fit the tube (7mm tube), so I don't see how you could turn between centres. Similar for slimlines.

 

[donwatson]

+ 1 for what Woody says.

 

[Buckeye]

Not all bushes will work between centres though folks, or am I being thick?

The razor bushes from T/R are just a cylinder, no step to fit the tube (7mm tube), so I don't see how you could turn between centres. Similar for slimlines.

You don't need bushes to turn between centres just a dead centre in the headstock and a live centre in the tailstock.

Peter

 

[Woody]

OK wise guy all except slimline type pens and projects that use a 7mm tube

 

[Gizmo3k]

If you haven't got a dead centre you can make one with a good bit of hard wood either with a Mt or just a round one to hold in your chuck also your revolving centre turn a bit of hard wood to fit over your old one and turn a point on that regarding your question you can use the bushes or just go direct into the tube

That could work - got a bit of maple kicking around which might do the job.

When I was reversing a bowl, I turned a knob to put on the end of my mandrel saver (it has a nice round bit that fits perfectly into a drilled hole) - could try that again but with a point this time!

Chronos are all out of 2MT dead centres, although that is a nice price they have! Could pick up a MT1 and a sleeve I suppose!

 

[Grump]

I am taking some pics of a fix for ya, I'll stick it in new thread later when I get my confuser up and running indoors init?

 

[PhillH]

OK wise guy all except slimline type pens and projects that use a 7mm tube

See I have learned something while I've been here