**  Be sure to check your taper size on your lathe before purchasing.  #1 Morse taper is ≈.475" at the large diameter side of the taper.  #2 Morse Taper is ≈.700" at the large diameter side of the taper.  Tapers are NOT interchangeable without adapter sockets.  We have seen many of the import lathes with incorrect taper specifications in the manual (ie Manual says #1 MT, but the machine actually has a #2MT) - so be sure to check before you order.

Using a tail stock while turning is required unless you fabricate a "draw bar" to hold the mandrel in the head stock through the spindle.  Using "all-thread" through the spindle, with a washer, and a nut on the back side is a common practice.  Be sure to cut the "all-thread" to the shortest possible length to avoid injury.

*LIFETIME WARRANTY*  5/8" (.625") Expanding Mandrel with a #2 Morse Taper mount.  The call portion of the mandrel is ≈2.6" long.

The EXM Series Mandrels are made from 4140 Steel, and uses the more robust NPT expansion plud design for added durability.  The EXM Series Mandrels are knurled on the body of the mandrel.  Un-knurled EXM mandrels are not available.

Expanding mandrels have a limited range of expansion before damage to the mandrel can occur.  Typically your bore should not be larger than .010" over the size of the mandrel.  Though the mandrels will expand beyond that point (some more than others depending on model and diameter), alignment will suffer if the bore is any larger than mandrel and at a certain point the mandrel will be damaged and could become unusable if the bore is oversized by too much.  If you have issues with a mandrel holding a blank, the first thing you need to do is inspect your bore.  Measure each end with, at the least, a dial or digital caliper (something that reads in thousandths of an inch) to identify the actual size and if there is any taper.  Any more than .010" oversize and you will need to look into your drilling equipment and address the issues there, or look into drilling undersize and using a chucking reamer to bring the hole up to size.

Expanding Mandrels with #2 MT have a 3/8" - 16 threaded end for a draw bar to hold the mandrel in place for turning without the tail stock.

A draw bar is basically a rod that holds the mandrel in the taper.  The easiest method to make a draw bar is get some "all-thread" the size of the threaded hole in the back of the mandrel, a couple washers and two matching nuts.  Insert the mandrel in the head stock, then slide the all thread through the back of the head stock and thread into the mandrel.  put on the washers and nuts, then mark the rod.  Remove the rod, and cut at your mark.  Reinstall the threaded rod from the back, and tighten the first nut, and then use the second nut as a "jam nut" - locking the other nut in place.  Do not use these mandrels without a tail stock unless you have installed a draw bar or the mandrel can fly out causing injury and or damage to your equipment.

This is the recommended style of mandrel for the beginner.

Requires a 1/4" Allen Wrench for the expansion screw.  Replacment expansion plugs are readily available at any hardware store - they are 1/4" NPT Socket head pipe plugs as well as under the Mandrel Parts Category.