What do i need to turn a pen on a Clarke 40" lathe

[SirObalobus]

So I have a 40" Clarke lathe and want to get into pen turning, as this lathe doesn't have a morse taper i was wondering what i would need to attach a mandrel to it, I'm pretty new to this and only got the lathe a month ago and so I'm not exactly sure on what the different mandrels are and how they are attached, any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Lazurus]

You will need a pen mandrel and bushes to suit the pen kits you intend to use, there are many suppliers, Google is your friend here. You can also improvise by making pens to suit the cheap biro inserts, will require some accurate drilling to get them to fit. Also try Pinterest for inspiration

 

[Lons]

You can turn a pen between centres and use callipers to size so don't have to have a mandrel or bushes though they do make it easier. If you have a chuck it can be possible to grip a mandrel in it sometimes and can turn your own bushes if you want them.
Have a look at http://www.penturners.co.uk/, they're a friendly, helpful bunch.

 

[nev]

Assuming it is one of these ..
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke- ... ing-lathe/
and as you say it does not have a Morse Taper fitting, you are somewhat limited in ways of holding the workpiece.
I believe that apart from the fixed drive centre and faceplate you cannot fix any other accessories i.e. mandrels and chucks*. So if you are not turning spindles your only other method of holding the wood is using the faceplate.

In order to turn pens I think your simplest (and only?) solution would be fix a block of wood to you face plate, maybe a 3" cube, and drill a hole* in the centre to accept the Morse Taper. The size of the hole should be the diameter of the MT at maybe 5mm from the fat end. This should allow you to hold the MT securely whilst the tailstock holds the other end of the mandrel parallel and provides the 'push' to hold the mandrel in place.

*Unfortunately another shortcoming of your lathe is that you cannot fit a Jacobs (drill) Chuck in the tailstock, which makes drilling centrally into the workpiece a simple operation.
'Drill' your hole, or at least the beginning of it using a gouge (see at about 2minutes into this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPM2vQtuBBY )
You could purchase any pen mandrel of your choice, (Axminster, turners retreat, rutlands etc).