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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Pen bushing question

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Pen bushing question

#1

Pen bushing question

Dominic Greco in Richboro, PA

>

Quick one here people;

I'm in the process of making some last minute Christmas gifts for the family and need to buy about (32) slim line pen kits. (Nothing like waiting until the last minute, eh?)

Before my Dad passed away, he cut down a large limb from the huge old maple tree that was on the front lawn of the house he and my Mom lived in for 50 years. Since he knew I was a turner, he gave that branch to me. Just this past summer, the tree had to be cut down (it was leaning towards the house). You know, the old house just doesn't look the same with out that tree. My siblings all feel the same way. So, I decided to make the entire family pens from my "Dad's Tree".

Arizona Silhouette has a special on the Berea 24K Plain Kit Slimline Pen kits (#BHW-10) for $1.49 each. That's about the best price I have seen for these kits (and I like dealing with Bill Baumbeck). So it looks like I'm going to buy them.

Only, I don't know if the bushings (p/n: 1A) Berea sells will fit on my PSI mandrel. Anybody have an idea on this?

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Pen bushing question

#2

Re: Pen bushing question

Carole in VA

>Don't know, but I am getting some of those kits and bushing from him this week. Why don't you get him to measure the diameter?

Re: Pen bushing question

#3

Re: Pen bushing question

Stuart Johnson

>I've turned both Bera and PSI Slimlines using the same bushings with no problems. When ordering for the Freedom Pens Project you might get either brand.

Re: Pen bushing question

#4

Re: Pen bushing question

BubbaBob

>Should work...a 7mm mandrel is a 7mm mandrel...

BubbaBob

Re: Pen bushing question

#5

Re: Pen bushing question

Greg W. in NC

>Dominic,

Well, keep in mind the Berea mandrel is slightly larger than the PSI. So, the bushings for the Berea kits are also slightly larger. Yes, the Berea bushings will go on the PSI mandrel, but you'll probably have a slight bit of 'slop'. That can lead to the end of the blank not being quite small enough, since the bushing *could* be cock-eyed or not centered, making its turning radius larger.

I *highly* recommend the Berea "A" mandrel (not the precision mandrel), as its thicker diameter keeps it from whipping as badly. If you have other manufacturer's bushings that won't fit, simply ream out the inside of the bushing (I chuck my bushing in a collet and insert a rolled up piece of sandpaper until it's the right size.) If you do many pens at all, you'll be far happier with the Berea mandrel, I think.

Re: Pen bushing question

#6

Thanks people!

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>After some thought, I think I'm just going to order the Berea Mandrel. They're not very expensive and I need another one any way. It will help when I'm working on a "production run" of pens in the future.

Thanks again!

See ya around,

My ugly mug

Dominic

Re: Pen bushing question

#7

Re: Pen bushing question

EagleS.C.

>I switch Berea "A" bushings,PSI and Woodcraft all the time with no problems.

If you are "reaming" bushings with sandpaper I wouldn't worry about exactness.