Slimline pen turned between centres

[finneyb]

Hi,

I'm new to pen turning, but not turning; I want to turn a slimline pen (already got the kit & bushings from Axminster) without a mandrel. Now having some doubt in my mind - are the bushings the same for mandrel and between centre turning?

Brian

 

[Paul Hannaby]

If you are turning a slimline pen between centres, you wouldn't use any bushes because the bushes don't go inside the tubes.

 

[finneyb]

Thanks Paul,

That explains everything - it just didn't look right when I got home

Brian

 

[CHJ]

Two things to be careful of turning between centres:

• Make sure you do not apply excessive centre pressure and open up the tubes.
  Check the dimensions of the turning at the ends of the tubes very carefully, even a slight discrepancy of diameter can be an obvious mismatch dependant upon the kit parts.

Using a mandrel and bushes is so much quicker and easier, the bushes providing the dimension datum rather than having to measure it.

 

[EnErY]

All that Chas Has explained is correct I turn between centres on some kits but be very careful as to how much pressure you apply because it can produce a lot of scrap tubes
Regards
Bill

 

[finneyb]

Thanks Gents,

Where would I get bushes from? I can find US sites but postage and time would be excessive.
Could turn my own from HDPE or similar.
I live near to Axminster Warrington - didn't see any there, have I missed them?

Brian

 

[CHJ]

......Where would I get bushes from? .....

Why do you need different bushes, you say in your opening post that you have the kits and necessary bushes.

What you need is a suitable mandrel set for your lathe/method of driving it, on that score if you give specific details of which kit you have from Axminster then someone may be able to guide you to an appropriate mandrel. (Axminsters version should match)

Mandrels would appear universal but there are a couple of exceptions based on source, some being imperial based and others metric.
Not a great deal of difference but enough to make selection of bushings awkward if you are sourcing from USA/UK/Elsewhere.

 

[finneyb]

Chas,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6wTnych ... e=youtu.be shows what I want to do only with a slimline pen.
You can see the type of bushing in the opening shots bottom right on the lathe bed.

The bushings I have do not have a step-in to fit inside the tube, a requirement for between centre turning.
So far as I can see they would only work with a mandrel.

From the advice above I can get by without any bushings for between centre slimline pen turning, but may be more successful to use them and I can see the logic in that advice. My question now is do you know where to get them from in the UK?

Brian

 

[Paul.J]

I've never seen pens turned this way before so it a new one for me :?:
If you are not gonna use a mandrel try turning bushings out of wood with the step on to fit snugly in the tube.
Make em long enough to give you a good clearance either end to get the tool in.

 

[CHJ]

...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6wTnych ... e=youtu.be shows what I want to do only with a slimline pen.
You can see the type of bushing in the opening shots bottom right on the lathe bed.

.....

Most unlikely you will find a supplier for bushing like that, as the person says in the video he makes them himself.
I do the same whenever I get a different pen kit and make them to suit my mandrel.

You wont find any stepped bushes for a slimline 7mm pen tube as the tube bore is the same as or very close to the mandrel diameter so any external sizing/spacing bushings do not need to be stepped.

As Paul says you can turn some up out of Hard wood, Brass or Alloy on your wood lathe but they aren't going to be very long lived, alternately you could turn up some 6 or 6.25mm dowelling to fit in your existing bushes but I doubt you will be able to get the accuracy that you will need to make a sensible repeatable job.

What have you got against obtaining a mandrel, losing a couple of kits whilst trying to do something you have not got the facilities to accomplish will soon make the cost of a mandrel seem realistic.

 

[finneyb]

What have you got against obtaining a mandrel, losing a couple of kits whilst trying to do something you have not got the facilities to accomplish will soon make the cost of a mandrel seem realistic.

I'm not intending to make more than a few pens and maybe just the one - I can turn my own bushings if I have to and it looks as though I will have to, and I then have the kit.

Thanks for your help

 

[Walter Hall]

I often turn pens between centres. It is easy to do and the only potential problem is the one Chas has already pointed out about the possibility of too much tailstock pressure flaring the brass tubes.

No one makes slimline bushings that are stepped to fit inside the tubes. They are all designed to fit on a mandrel. You could fabricate your own by gluing short pieces of 1/4" steel or brass rod into them or turn your own bushings from brass or acrylic , but to be honest that would be more bother than it is worth. If you have the skill to turn accurate bushings to size then you have no need of bushings as you already have the skill to just turn the pen barrels between centres without bushings.

 

[EnErY]

I often turn pens between centres. It is easy to do and the only potential problem is the one Chas has already pointed out about the possibility of too much tailstock pressure flaring the brass tubes.

No one makes slimline bushings that are stepped to fit inside the tubes. They are all designed to fit on a mandrel. You could fabricate your own by gluing short pieces of 1/4" steel or brass rod into them or turn your own bushings from brass or acrylic , but to be honest that would be more bother than it is worth. If you have the skill to turn accurate bushings to size then you have no need of bushings as you already have the skill to just turn the pen barrels between centres without bushings.

I Agree with You There Walter I have Never seen This Type Of bushing before But ,The Solution is to get a mandrel It will serve further purposes if needed for other varieties and of pens make life a lot easier and more cost effective
Regards
Bill