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Pin chuck query

Normancb

Full Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Posts
10
Location
Brighton, UK
Does anyone have any experience with using a pin chuck to turn closed-end pens? Have seen references to them in a few places so I thought I'd give it a try. I took a spare mandrel and milled a flat 3/32" deep on it to take a bit of 3/32" steel rod. It fits nicely into a 7mm tube but won't lock - all that happens is that the mandrel spins and the rod spins the opposite way like a roller bearing, while the tube stays still. I tried using a bit of rubber instead of the rod and that locks but is very "bouncy" so gives a poor surface finish from a skew. I've used home made pin chucks on wood before now and they seem to work fine.

Any advice gratefully received.
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
I have a few....i bought mine through Turners Retreat ( craft supplies) a quick flick and it locks straight up.....:thumbs:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
There now for those that can and the ones that would prefer to buy. A ready made answer to help along the way. By the time turners decide to do this when making as much of the pen that seems practical the skill of making a mandrel is a doddle in the park compared with threading etc.Also thoroughly gone over in the IAP Library.
Peter.
 

Normancb

Full Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Posts
10
Location
Brighton, UK
Thanks to everyone who responded - some useful information.

Experimenting a bit further, it seems like the critical thing is that the mandrel has to be a very close fit in the tube for these things to work. The one I made first used a commercial mandrel shaft which seemed to be a close fit but whatever size pin or pin material I used it always would just spin with the pin rotating and the tube not driven. I made a new one by using some 0.25” rod and machining it down till it was just a sliding fit in the pen tube and it works fine with a 3/32” pin. There must be an interesting bit of maths there but I’m happy enough that I made it work. Surprisingly, Turners Retreat no longer lists them. They are still available from Craft supplies in the US but the postage cost more than the item.
 
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