Looks like it will work fine. The only problem with it is that the opening at the back of the tailstock is large enough that my rod that I use (came with lathe) to tap out the tailstock will slide inside the tailstock and get wedged. I have a work around for this problem but the hole should be smaller, maybe the same diameter as the front opening.
In a word, Amazing! I had been turning pens since I was in highschool and always had trouble with putting too much pressure on the mandrel from a live center or from using a drill chuck. The mandrel saver is really a life saver here. Its super easy to set up and perfectly centered every time. I had not turned a pen in years and it was easily the truest pen I have ever turned. Well worth the cost. I slapped this thing on the Harbor Freight mini lathe and it turns like butter. Slide the tailstock until it touches the spacers, snug up the tailstock and give the feed a bit of tension and it runs true. I tuned 1in plus blanks with no slippage even when really hoging into the blank.
If you are a pen turner, this is a must have for your turnings! The mandrel saver eliminates the issue of bending your mandrel if you are applying too much pressure when you are using friction polish and any other process you use to finish your pens. So much better then the brass fitting and a live center. I have turned pens with both and will not turn them without the mandrel saver now. Great product. Very happy with it.
This thing is awesome! I turn a lot of small parts on the mandrel and before this it was hit and miss because of the rod flexing and parts chattering. This solves the problem and lets you snug things up using the tail stock instead of the knurled wheel. I get much better parts now and I just love it! Oh and I also use it to support dowels I turn with a MT2 collet. I’m very glad I ordered it!
This device is so much better than screwing a nut onto the end of the mandrel. Using the lathe's tailstock, I can easily apply the pressure needed to hold the blanks and bushing firmly. I have used it on the PSI mandrel, the Craft supplies mandrel, and the A shaft of the Berea mandrel. The B size Berea mandrel rod is too thick for the opening in the Mandrel Saver.
Feature Product
- Unique design to support the end of your mandrel
- Provides no pressure on the mandrel thus eliminating any bending and vibration
- There is no longer a need for spacer bushings
- The live center is now obsolete
- Will work with all mandrels with a diameter of 0.245-Inch or less
Description
Are you tired of bending your Mandrel and ruining the point on your live center? If so, then this fail-safe live center accessory is for you. Mandrels usually bend when you tighten the tailstock center point into the end indentation of your mandrel shaft. This system solves that problem because your mandrel shaft goes through the hollow live center, and rides on a presision bearing. Your bushings sit against the center with zero pressure on the mandrel shaft. The pen tube and bushing assembly tightens up by turning your tailstock quill adjustment wheel. Great for beginners and students. Unique design to support the end of your mandrel. Provides no pressure on the mandrel thus eliminating any bending and vibration. There is no longer a need for spacer bushings. The live center is now obsolete. Will work with all mandrels with a diameter of 0.245-Inch or less.
I found that being able to just move up the tail stock and lock in the bearings is so much easier than tightening the twist nut on the mandrel. It seems to hold tighter and obviously not put sideways pressure on the mandrel that could bend it ever so slightly. My old mandrel got bent and it was useless after that. So this pays for itself in not replacing your mandrel.
I recently turned 40 pens with this item paired with a Whiteside Pro Pen Mandrel. Together, they performed flawlessly. Definitely a million times better than using the knurled nut method of securing the blanks and bushings to the mandrel.
Hey, it definitely saves my mandrel. As a newer wood turner this thing makes turning pens really easy and eliminates any concern of damaging my pen mandrel.
for pen turners, works great. Look for the one that the head looks like a one piece vs the two piece. Saves Mandrel like the title says. Also convenient when you are doing pens like Wall Streets, Accords, Lever Action, Bolt Action and other single blank pens where you would normally need spacers. The mandrel bar is easy to bend, I'll start using them in the pen turning classes I teach.
I use it with the brass nut in place and it works to keep me from bending the shaft while turning pens keeps it centered better than regular center because it is closer to the work.
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