Drive center and #2 taper
The headstock taper registers the drive end in a compatible lathe; seat clean tapers without forcing or modifying them.
Power Tools / Wood Turning / Field guide
Pen Turning Mandrel
Center pen blanks between a lathe's headstock and tailstock with an adjustable mandrel shaft and matched collet-style centers.
#2 MorseTaperDrive + live centersSystem
01 / Tool anatomy
See the assembled tool and its components
An original educational poster identifies 6 documented construction features. The numbered descriptions remain readable below the artwork on narrow screens.
- Drive center
The #2 Morse taper seats in the headstock and carries the drive-side collet and locking collar.
- Drive-center cone
A separately drawn conical sleeve surrounds the shaft entry at the drive end.
- Mandrel shaft
Ground shaft carries kit-specific bushings and blanks between the two centers.
- Nose cone
Removable live-end sleeve guides the shaft; the maker says it seldom needs removal.
- Nose-cone pin
Small locating pin aligns with the flat on the live center when refitting the cone.
- Live center
Tailstock #2 Morse taper and 12-segment collet receive the shaft as the quill advances.
Technical references: Woodpeckers Pen Mandrel System owner manual REV101223, pp.1–2 · Woodpeckers 2024 catalog, p.77, USPMD. The drive center and live center seat in the lathe headstock and tailstock. The mandrel shaft passes through the drive-center cone and into the live-center nose cone. The small pin locates the cone against a flat on the live center. Bushings and wooden blanks are separately selected accessories and are omitted from this tool-only construction study. Original educational artwork depicts documented component groups and their relationships; it is not a service sequence or a replacement for the exact model manual.
02 / Understand the tool
What it is and what each part does
Woodpeckers identifies USPMD as its Pen Mandrel System for #2 Morse Taper lathes. Its 2023 owner manual shows the drive center, drive-center cone, mandrel shaft, removable nose cone with locating pin, and live center. The 2024 maker catalog describes a 12-segment collet at each end: a headstock collar locks the exposed shaft length and advancing the tailstock compresses the opposite collet. Pen-kit bushings and wooden blanks are selected separately; the catalog lists precision bushings as a distinct product. The illustration omits branding and does not claim dimensioned manufacturing geometry or internal bearing detail.
A #2 Morse taper seats the drive center in the lathe headstock. The slim mandrel shaft slides into its conical collet end, and the knurled collar fixes how much shaft is exposed. Kit-specific bushings and drilled pen blanks slide over the shaft. At the tailstock, the shaft enters the live center through its nose cone; advancing and locking the quill grips the shaft and the work between the two ends. The small nose-cone pin locates a flat on the live center. The maker says this cone normally stays installed and is removed only when cleaning requires it. The construction study separates only the parts labeled in that manual, along their common axis, and is educational rather than a service sequence.
Drive-center cone and locking collar
The shaft enters the headstock collet; the collar fixes the required exposed length for the current blanks and bushings.
Ground mandrel shaft
The straight shaft carries the separately chosen bushings and prepared pen blanks; avoid bending it with excessive tailstock force.
Nose cone, pin and live center
The removable nose cone aligns on a flat via its locating pin. The live-center collet grips the shaft when the tailstock quill advances.
01 / Working relationship
How the main groups connect
02 / Working setup
Set the shaft for the blanks and live-center grip
02 / Working principle
Set, guide and control the action
These decisions make the mechanism useful at the bench.
Set exposed length
Leave room for all bushings and blanks plus at least 3/4 inch of shaft inside the live center, as the maker instructs.
Seat both tapers
Keep #2 Morse taper seats clean and fully engaged in compatible headstock and tailstock bores.
Advance the quill
Lock the tailstock, then advance only enough to hold the shaft and work without bending the mandrel.
Turn one pen barrel
Mount a prepared blank between its matching kit bushings and shape it progressively to the target diameter.
Turn a two-barrel pen
Arrange both blanks and their specific bushing order on the shaft, exposing only the length needed.
Sand and finish
Use light, even pressure and protect the metal bushings from abrasive contamination while refining the barrels.
03 / At the bench
Setup, technique and finish quality
Use the steps for a first pass, then inspect the work before changing the setup.
- Check that both lathe sockets accept #2 Morse tapers and clean the mating surfaces.
- Seat the drive center in the headstock with the lathe stopped.
- Slide the shaft into the drive-center cone and expose the combined bushing and blank length plus at least 3/4 inch for the live center.
- Fit correct kit bushings and drilled, tube-glued blanks in the kit's order; these are separate accessories.
- Bring up the tailstock, insert the shaft into the live center, lock the tailstock and advance the quill to secure the work.
- Rotate by hand for clearance and runout, then start at a suitable low speed and use light cuts.
- Stop the lathe before measuring, rearranging blanks, cleaning or adjusting the collar or quill.
Bushings are kit-specific
The pen kit defines bushing diameters and order; the USPMD system does not make every bushing interchangeable.
Shorter exposed shaft can be stiffer
Set only the length needed for the work while retaining the manual's minimum live-center engagement.
Nose cone is seldom removed
The maker permits removal for cleaning; align its locating pin with the live-center flat when reinstalling.
What changes by model or material
Choose shaft exposure and bushing sequence to match the pen kit rather than adding unneeded spacers.
Buy the dimensions specified for the pen kit; Woodpeckers lists precision bushings separately from USPMD.
This reference is USPMD for #2 Morse Taper; verify both lathe sockets before choosing any mandrel system.
Choosing the tool
- Verify #2 Morse Taper compatibility at both headstock and tailstock.
- Check straight shaft condition, secure collet engagement, and access to replacement parts.
- Budget separately for pen-kit bushings, blanks, brass tubes, drill bits and safe turning tools.
Useful accessories
- Kit-specific pen bushings
- Compatible wood lathe
- Pen blank drilling and tube preparation tools
Consumables
- Pen blanks and brass tubes
- Pen-kit bushings when worn
- Appropriate finish and abrasives
04 / Keep control
Care, troubleshooting and safety
Stop the tool and disconnect power before investigating a fault or changing a part.
Care checklist
- Wipe resin and sanding dust from the shaft and exposed collet surfaces after use.
- Keep #2 tapers clean and dry so they seat without debris-induced runout.
- Inspect the shaft for bends and the collar for secure operation.
- Remove the nose cone only if cleaning requires it, then align its pin with the live-center flat.
Common mistakes
- Treating optional bushings or wooden blanks as included mandrel parts.
- Leaving too little shaft for the live center to grip.
- Overadvancing the tailstock quill and bowing the shaft.
- Reinstalling the nose cone without aligning its locating pin.
Safety at the operation
- Wear eye protection and tie back loose clothing around the rotating lathe.
- Turn the lathe off before touching the mandrel, collar, tailstock or work.
- Use properly prepared, glued and cured blanks with the correct bushings.
- Start at a suitable low speed, stand clear at startup and stop for vibration or runout.
When the result goes wrong
Stop and inspect clean taper seating, shaft straightness, bushing order and quill pressure.
Check the headstock collar lock, live-center shaft engagement and tailstock quill setting.
Inspect for debris and align its locating pin with the live-center flat; do not force it.
Check blank balance and tube prep, then inspect mandrel shaft runout and center seating before resuming.
05 / Sources to keep learning
Manuals and educational resources
Use the exact tool manual for setup, limits and replacement parts. These lessons, documents and model pages teach relevant techniques or help compare real variations.
Manufacturer manuals
Learn and compare
06 / Manufacturer directory
Manufacturers & Brands
These maker-owned links document relevant tools and tool brands. A product brand may use another company's factory; compare the exact model before choosing parts or accessories.
Choose parts for the exact model
Cutters, abrasives, guards, guides, dust fittings and service parts vary by tool. Check the model plate and manufacturer manual before ordering or changing a component.
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