broke mandrell

[onedash]

My son was trying to make a yo-yo and snapped the rod in the mandrell.
I wore out the tip on one rod and now its ruined. He didnt round the corners first. Would the ones with a retractable rod be better I guess for something this small?
Are they better in general or no? Seems like it would be impossible to ruin the morse taper on those....I never really looked at them but I guess they have a collet to hold the rod???

[final_t]

I have both the "fixed" and "adjustable" mandrels, and they work pretty good. If he just snapped the rod, you should be able to replace it (they unscrew usually) - take the broken bits to Woodcraft if you've got one in town, otherwise, you can try HD/Lowes for some metal rod and make your own.

As for the mechanics: yes, the adjustable model has a collet just like a router. I keep two wrenches handy for mine.

Biggest problem I've got is that with either model you can bend the rod all too easily, mostly if you've cranked either the brass locking nut down, or else the tailstock too tight.

This link has a really great step-by-step on adjusting a pen mandrel:
http://www.woodturnerruss.com/Pen12b.html

[Tom Hintz]

I use the adjustable length mandrel and really like being able to shorten it for smaller projects. Accidents can still happen of course and if they are big enough, probably could kill even a shortened up mandrell rod.

[Tom Miller]

I've heard good things about this one from Lee Valley:



Otherwise, the design of the 1/4" collets of "universal mandrels" I've seen is nowhere near the quality you'd find on, e.g., a router collet. It's pretty clear once you look at them that it's a fundamental design problem. Some folks report no problem; I had two bad ones out of two (12 mils runout).

Regards,
Tom

[onedash]

I have both the "fixed" and "adjustable" mandrels, and they work pretty good. If he just snapped the rod, you should be able to replace it (they unscrew usually) - take the broken bits to Woodcraft if you've got one in town, otherwise, you can try HD/Lowes for some metal rod and make your own.

As for the mechanics: yes, the adjustable model has a collet just like a router. I keep two wrenches handy for mine.

Biggest problem I've got is that with either model you can bend the rod all too easily, mostly if you've cranked either the brass locking nut down, or else the tailstock too tight.

This link has a really great step-by-step on adjusting a pen mandrel:
http://www.woodturnerruss.com/Pen12b.html

The threaded part broke off inside. I can only connect a new one about 3/4 of a turn.

[final_t]

The threaded part broke off inside. I can only connect a new one about 3/4 of a turn.

Hmm, try getting a drill bit about 1/3rd the size of the rod and drill down, and then use a screw remover tool. No promises if you can salvage it, however. You might just be better off to get a replacement unit ($10 @ woodcraft) since you have to replace the shaft anyways, or perhaps a better choise is an adjustable one at WC or LeeValley - with one of those, if you snap the shaft, you can get it out with no problems.