Where can I buy mandrels so that I can turn cork? Does lowes or home depot carry them?

~Jon

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind

Here for cork AND wood mandrels ... [store.scottscustomrods.com]

OR

Here for cork mandrels ... [www.mudhole.com]

Jon,
I just go to a hardware store, or big box store and buy either plain or threaded rod in the size that I want.
I then use my chop saw to cut to length and round the ends on my disk sander. I put the manderal into my lathe- leaving only a very short length exposed. Then, I use a 60 degree cutting tool or drill bit to make a hole in the center of the rod to keep the manderal centered during use.

Take care
Roger

Roger, I had several accidents when I first started turning by using threaded rod for mandrels. One involved stitches in my head. Those things flex WAY to easy from the pressure of cutting tools. I know people use them but, IMO, they are an accident waiting to happen. If you don't want to buy mandrels, pre made, you can buy stainless drill rod and make them for not much more. For ME, it's worth the piece of mind

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

I would take Mike's advice VERY seriously. He knows what he's talking about, and I found out the hard way too. General purpose all-thread (thread stock) is WAY too soft to use as a mandrel. Get the hardened, or better yet - like Mike said - get some hardened drill stock and have it machined to fit your lathe... you'll like the results, and it will be worth it!

Thanks for the info guys, so here's another stupid question.....how do you attach the mandrel to the lathe? I'm using a hobby lathe from adjustable clamp company...here's the link [www.adjustableclamp.com]

I'm not sure what I'd need to attach the mandrel. This is the first thing like this that I've bought so I'm totally clueless.

~Jon

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind

Jon,
For this particular lathe, you are using an electric drill as a power source.
Simply open the drill chuck, insert the manderal, tighten it up and you are good to go.
You then, want to move the tail stock - the end opposite the drill up to the end of the manderal.
All of the good manderals will have a depression in the center of the manderal to insert the tail stock pointed tip. This pointed tip on the tail stock will keep the end of the manderal opposite the drill centered and free of vibration.

P.S.
Never apologize for asking a question.

A question is simply a request for information to advance your education.

Take care
Roger

Roger, I thought about that too, the only problem is that the Drill Chuck attaches to a rod that is on the lathe. I'm going to tinker with it a little bit tomorrow and see what I can figure out. Thanks again for the help. I really appreciate it.

~Jon

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind

Jon,
When I looked at the picture of the lathe, I see what you mean.
The question is - are there any threads on the rod that comes out of the drill that fits into the end of the lathe?
If so, it may be possible to screw a lathe chuck onto the threads, or it may be possible to screw a drill chuck on the ends of threads. Finally, if there are no threads on the rod, it may be possible to put threads on the shaft to enable the installation of a chuck - depending on the size of the shaft.

Take care
Roger

Roger,
On the other side of that shaft there is a threaded female end that is 1/2 in in diameter. Do they make chucks that would fit that?

~Jon

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind

Roger,
On the other side of that shaft there is a threaded female end that is 1/2 in in diameter. Do they make chucks that would fit that?

~Jon

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind

I just took the 1/2" Dia. shaft for my home built lathe to a Mavhine shop and had it threaded to fit a 2.5" 3 jaw chuck I purchased fonline