Universal Pen Mandrel Kit

Description

The Universal Pen Mandrel Kit by Planet / rotur is an innovative design that will allow most of the pen kits available to be turned on a single mandrel.
The kit consists of the following, which is supplied in a double clear cylinder which screws together keeping the universal pen mandrel kit together safe and in one place.

Supplied in the clear tube:

• 1 x Mandrel
  • Either a No 1MT or No 2MT with a grub screw for locking tight the pen mandrel shaft
• 1 x Pen mandrel shaft
  • Designed to hold the pen blanks
  • One end of the pen mandrel shaft there a thread which takes the brass thumbscrew and locking nut
  • The other end is a concave which is to hold the tip of the rotating centre in the tail stock of the lathe.
• 1 x Alan key, to use with the grub screw in the mandrel
• 1 x Nut
• 1 x Spanner
• 1x Brass Nut
• 1 x Small tommy-bar
• 3 x Parallel spacers
• 4 x Cone spacers
• Instruction sheet

The universal pen mandrel kit probably one of the easiest pen mandrels to use. Explained below is the method of using the universal pen mandrel kit when turning a 7 mm twist pen, most other pens are turned in the same way.

1. Prepare the pen blanks, cutting to size, drilling out and gluing in the pen brass tubes. Once the glue as cured clean out any glue over spill and square off each end flush to the ends of the pen brass tube/s. (do not shorten the brass tube as this may cause problems when it comes to assembling the pen and it will not fit together).
2.  Ensure that the lathe is switched off and place the mandrel and pen mandrel shaft into the head stock of the lathe.
3. Loosen the grub screw on the mandrel and slide and adjust the pen mandrel shaft to your chosen length and tight the grub screw locking in the pen mandrel shaft.
4. Slide on one of the parallel spacers then one of the pen blanks, slide on the second parallel spacers then the other pen blank, slide on the third parallel spacers.
5. Loosen the grub screw on the mandrel and make any adjustments to the length of the pen mandrel shaft in the mandrel and fully tighten the grub screw
6. Using the brass nut to screw down and tighten up the parallel spacers and pen blanks if necessary, use the small bar to tighten the thumbscrew then screw on the locking nut and tighten with the spanner. The pen blanks should not rotate or move on their own they should only move with the pen mandrel and shaft.
7. If using the rotating centre, push up the tail stock making sure that the tip of the rotating centre is firmly located in the concave end of the pen mandrel shaft, lock in and tighten the tail stock
8. Offer up the tool rest and turn the pen blank in the same manner as spindle turning
9. Once the pen blanks have been turned and polished, ensure the lathe is switched off, remove the tool rest and pull back the tail stock, loosen and remove both the locking nut and brass thumbscrew and slide off the parallel spacers and finished pen blanks, being careful not to scratch or mark the surface of the pen blanks.
10. Assemble the pen as per the pen kits assembly instructions

Even the tidiest amongst us can sometimes misplace those small bits and pieces, in the toolbox, amongst the wood shavings on the floor and elsewhere. Rather than having to purchase a completely new pen turning kit, we can supply you with the different parts that make up the pen mandrel kit

If you require any further information on how the universal pen mandrel kit works or if you are unsure if you require a No 1MT or No 2MT, call or email our office and a member of our team will assist you.

Additional information