Turning between centres

[KevinMc]

Hi

Last daft question of the night from me... before going out...

So many of you refer to turning between centres instead of using bushings etc...

Which centres work best for pen turning?

Kevin

 

[Walter]

You need a 60 degree dead centre in the headstock and a 60 degree revolving centre in the tailstock.

For best results you also need to use TBC bushes.

 

[fortress]

Yes Kevin, what Ebenezer said, I find it a joy to turn between centres.

 

[Penpal]

There are a few ways to go as no doubt they will tumble out,I still like mandrels.

Peter.

 

[KevinMc]

There are a few ways to go as no doubt they will tumble out,I still like mandrels.

Peter.

I am using an Axminster compression mandrel and while I have not tried the other methods I do like my mandrel..

Kevin

 

[wm460]

I like this type of live centres they give you a little more room.

 

[21William]

I use a drive centre held in the chuck.

 

[Prokraft]

I am about to think out loud (that means typing an idea in here that I have not tried).......

The first thing I always think of is - can I make it myself?

Any reason why you can't mount a block of scrap wood in your chuck and fashion your own drive to an angle that suits? I am guessing that there may be better a better hold with wood and there is less chance of damaging any tubes which you could get with a metal drive.

I used to use this method for turning cylinder mower rollers as some of the bores are quite big - don't see any reason why it wouldn't work on a smaller project.

Won't last forever but won't cost anything to replace either.

Just a thought

 

[sbwertz]

Hi

Last daft question of the night from me... before going out...

So many of you refer to turning between centres instead of using bushings etc...

Which centres work best for pen turning?

Kevin

Do you have a supplier that sells the TBC mandrel like Penn State Industries in the US has?


Turn Between Centers Mandrel System #2MT at Penn State Industries

The advantage is that it allows you to use any bushes you have. Some bushes don't do well when mounted directly on a dead center, and TBC bushes can be very expensive.

 

[Penpal]

Sharon this system is a lot better in many ways than some of the shonky Mandrel Savers being sold.

Peter.

 

[21William]

I am about to think out loud (that means typing an idea in here that I have not tried).......

The first thing I always think of is - can I make it myself?

Any reason why you can't mount a block of scrap wood in your chuck and fashion your own drive to an angle that suits? I am guessing that there may be better a better hold with wood and there is less chance of damaging any tubes which you could get with a metal drive.

I used to use this method for turning cylinder mower rollers as some of the bores are quite big - don't see any reason why it wouldn't work on a smaller project.

Won't last forever but won't cost anything to replace either.

Just a thought

I don’t see why not, give it a try.