Mandrel Saver / Has any body used them

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maxman400

maxman400

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Omaha Arkansas
I bought one of the mandrel savers to give it a try, I have used it a couple of times. I don't see much difference between it and a 60 degree center. The Issue I have with it is when I try to remove it from my tail stock. It has a short shaft so it will not eject by retracting the the the tail shaft. And since the shaft is hollow my tamping rod goes down inside of it. So far the only way I can get it out is to place a broad head screwdriver between the tail stock and the back of the bearing area and pop it out. I know this is not good for the bearing, does anybody else have any suggestions or figured a better way to remove it yet?
 

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Max,
I had the same problem with the first one I used getting stuck. Unfortuantly, when I ran the rod, I drove the center bushing out of the mandrel saver. It snapped back in, but I just couldn't trust it. So I bought another one. I wonder if you were to put a plactic washer on it before you inserted it into the tail stock if that would help.

I'll see if anyone else replies with ideas for us.
 
WHSKYrvr1 said:
Max,
I had the same problem with the first one I used getting stuck. Unfortuantly, when I ran the rod, I drove the center bushing out of the mandrel saver. It snapped back in, but I just couldn't trust it. So I bought another one. I wonder if you were to put a plactic washer on it before you inserted it into the tail stock if that would help.

I'll see if anyone else replies with ideas for us.
Click to expand...
That Might work, since I use a chuck on the other end and I can take up the slack on that end instead of the tail stock end.
 
I haven't had a problem removing it. I back my tail stock down and it pops free. Short of how you are doing it, maybe make a "U" shaped jig, to slip down between the bearing and the tail stock, so when you retract it, the jig bottoms out an inch or more - out from the tail stock.

I use one on a regular basis, but only if I'm turning a single blank. If I'm doing two at a time, I use the brass wheel and a 60 deg center on an adjustable mandrel.

I bent a mandrel when using the mandrel saver on a double diva turning. There is too much play if all you are covering with the saver is the threads on the mandrel.

Just my $.02
 
I got PSI to replace my old one with the new design just this past week. I haven't tried out the new design yet. To eject mine from the tailstock on my Jet lathe I take the tailstock sleeve all the way out and then make sure the knock out rod is against the side of the sleeve so I didn't have to worry about it pushing the bushing out. A couple taps with the mallet and it pops out. I have been turning TBC so the only time I use it will be for slimlines which I don't have tbc bushings for yet.
 
I have one and use it all the time when I'm turning pens. I don't have a problem with mandrel flex. I have a Delta lathe and the Mandrel Saver pops right out when I retract the tailstock.

The only issue I've had with the Mandrel Saver is that I would snug it up too tight to the bushings and wound up ruining the first Mandrel Saver when the center piece came out with a torn o-ring; on the new Mandrel Saver, I only tighten it up to the bushings enough to keep the blanks from turning easy.
 
I use one on a Shopsmith, so the tailstock doesn't move, but the chuck side does. I usually have to loosen up the motor unit and slide it back as well to get it off. My mandrel gets stuck all the time on it, sometimes requiring me to put it in a vice and pound it out. And I've replaced the o-ring at least once. But the tradeoffs are what keep me using it. I turn more round pens, even if doing both sections at once, but it does work better with one section at a time.
 
I have a Rikon Lathe and the tail stock will not eject any short shafts even my 6o degree center has to be tapped out. Heck even the stock center has to be tapped out. I have some drill chucks that have long shafts and they pop right out when I retract the tail stock.
 
WHSKYrvr1 said:
Max,
I had the same problem with the first one I used getting stuck. Unfortuantly, when I ran the rod, I drove the center bushing out of the mandrel saver. It snapped back in, but I just couldn't trust it. So I bought another one. I wonder if you were to put a plactic washer on it before you inserted it into the tail stock if that would help.

I'll see if anyone else replies with ideas for us.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem. I solve it by inserting a short piece of 3/8 dowell into the tailstock before inserting the mandral. My knock out rod raps against the dowell and knocks the mandral saver out.
 
GColeman said:
I had the same problem. I solve it by inserting a short piece of 3/8 dowell into the tailstock before inserting the mandral. My knock out rod raps against the dowell and knocks the mandral saver out.
Click to expand...
I just came up with the same concept except I used one of my dis-assembly rods that just fit in to the tail stock then use use the knock out rod.
 
nava1uni said:
Why not glue a bolt into the end of the taper and then you could use your rod to get it out.
Click to expand...

Duh! Why didn't I think of that?

My little dowel trick works fine with the mandrel saver but, if I forget to remove it from the tail stock my regular live center pops out prematurely when retracting the quill.
 
With your band saw cut a slot into a 1" thick piece of wood so the slot fits over the tail stock quill.
The slot would be just wide enough to slip over the quill shaft.
This is used as a spacer between the tail stock housing and the live center to force the live center out of the quill when you retract it.
 
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