Pen Bushings Problem

[wizer]

I'm confuzzled. I bought a couple of chrome slimline sets from Vince at Turners Workshop and a set of bushings to match. However, the bushings do not fit on my mandrel?

What's wrong? the mandrel or the bushings?

 

[CHJ]

The unhelpful answer is neither... they are just not compatible with each other.

The more helpful Tom is to ask what is the diameter of the mandrel, and does a 7mm OD tube fit on it.?

I found when I made mine that although most references refer to the madrel being 1/4" (.250"), if they give any dimensions at all, I found that the mandrel needs to be more like .246-7" diameter to guarantee that most kits fit, and the few thou. slop does not appear to give any problems with the thinner walled tubes.

One of the main problems with all things lathe/tool related is the glib use of imperial and metric equivalents by the vendors when they are totally inaugurate in relation to mating fits.

 

[greggy]

tom, pm sent

 

[John. B]

The mandrel should 6mm diameter. The bushes in your pic do not look like streamline, more like slimline ones.
Having said that they should still fit the mandrel.

edit. I've just had another look at your pic, the bag says streamline and your text says slimline.
The bushes are different.

John. B

 

[greggy]

tom, it looks like your mandrel is the 8mm one. you need the 7mm one.

 

[wizer]

that sounds familiar greggy. I thought it was one size fits all. I'll order a slimmer mandrel.

Thanks