New to turning and especially pens

[Helen]

Hi I’m new to all of this so help and advise will be appreciated. I recently attended a show that allowed me to turn a pen and even with the time restraints really enjoyed it. I’d love some help on what would be an ideal mandrel to buy for a 2MT, so many reviews it’s hard to decide which would be the best.

 

[Bigblackdog]

welcome!

I went with this mandrel. seems good to me, but it is the only one that I have used.

Planet / Rotur Universal Pen Mandrel

 

[yorkshireman]

Welcome Helen, you’ll get a lot of help here so ask anything you’re not sure of.

 

[Penpal]

I like Marks suggestion but you would still need a live (rotating) centre in the tailstock to support it. I would look for a complete unit with a mandrel saver. This is fitted where the live centre goes and hold the mandrel around the shaft rather than the point of the live centre to the end of the mandrel.

Have fun,PS Cumbria we may have members near you or a wood group you could visit where they could introduce you personally to local advice all round. Welcome to the forum Helen.

Peter.

 

[Bammer]

This is the best out there

Axminster Evolution Series Compression Pen Mandrel - Pen & Pencil Kit Accessories - Woodturning Kits - Lathe Accessories - Machinery Accessories - Accessories | Axminster Tools & Machinery

 

[Phil Dart]

Hi Helen - welcome to the fold.

The two mandrels mentioned above, the Planet and the Axminster are the only two I would recommend, and I've tried several in my time. The planet requires a 60 degree live centre in the tailstock to support it, one of which is usually always supplied with a lathe when you buy one. The the Axminster comes with a "mandrel saver" which does away with the need for the live centre.

The Axminster is by far the more popular, which may be down to the size of Axminster's marketing machine. It's a good quality piece of kit but the downside of it is that it's shaft is possibly the thinnest on the market, which means that bushes from most kit manufacturers will rattle around on it to a greater or lesser degree. I personally use the Planet which is also good quality (it's actually a Rotur, which is the same thing) because it has a better sized shaft.

For myself I would avoid most other mandrels especially the ones available from any number of re-sellers of cheap chinese pen kits - the ones where you can get a slimline for a couple of quid or less. It's not a problem with the re-sellers but the mandrel they all sell is supplied by a firm called Rizheng and I have never, ever come across one that is straight, which is a pretty fundamental requirement in a pen mandrel.

 

[AllenN]

Welcome Helen. You will find loads of help on here. I use a Planet Rotur mandrel and a mandrel saver ( which I think is actually Axminster. Both are good. Do check the actual diameter of the rod supplied because some are not the same and create problems with bushes. I have found the Planet and the Axminster are fine and certainly fit the bushes from Beaufort Ink and Taylors Mirfield ( both good suppliers). I have also got a Turners Retreat mandrel but I do not recommend it. The rod is over sized and is secured by a protruding grub screw which is just waiting to catch unwary fingers. Both the Planet and the Axminster have collet fittings which are far better.
You do not actually have to use a mandrel at all. You can turn between centres which means having a drive centre at the headstock end and a rotating centre at the tailstock end. You can get bushes that have a internal cone shape to fit centres for this purpose. I would however recommend using a mandrel it just makes like simpler.
Mandrel savers are really a rotating tailstock with a hole for the mandrel rod. This has the advantage that you cannot overtighen the tailstock and bend the mandrel rod. The alternative is to secure the end of the rod with a standard rotating centre which fits into a small hole in the end of the rod.
Walter Hall who is will no doubt be along soon on this forum has a good book on turning pens. Worth looking out for or borrowing from the library.
Enjoy the forum

 

[wm460]

G'Day Helen,
Welcome to the forum from the chilly centre of Aust.

 

[porker356]

Welcome on board Helen. I use the axminster mandrel. I also live in Cumbria near Solway Coast. PM me and I will help you all I can.

Kind regards
Ian

 

[Helen]

Thanks the link is to the main shop I’ve used since starting turning this year so I may have to give them another visit

 

[Dalboy]

Hi and welcome Helen as above I also have the Rotur and find it does the job it is meant to I also use a mandrel saver which helps prevent you bending the shaft which people tend to do when using just the tailstock to support the end. This is due to the fact that the tailstock is over tightened in the end of the shaft.

 

[Penpal]

Ian you are are a gent, Helen take advantage of making a friend and prosper.

Peter.

 

[Helen]

Thanks everyone, sorry for a double reply I thought the first would have posted under Marks as the first reply. I’m hoping I’ll get the hang of the forum soon. The information provided so far has been brilliant and has come back with the two that I thought may have been the better ones plus confirmed a few worries about if cheap would do. Just out of interest are there any thoughts on the Planet/Rotur regarding universal or deluxe collet versions? Also are cheaper kits the way to go for learning initially.
Perhaps I should be asking this in another section now. As ever responses are greatly appreciated.

Helen

 

[Phil Dart]

The deluxe has a shrouded collet. Well worth the extra money in my view.

As to cheap kits, I have a horse in the race on that subject, so I'll leave commenting in that regard to others - I don't want to appear biased. I am biased but I don't want to appear biased. (Don't let on I said that)