Bottle stoppers get easier, 11.14.2009

Reviewer: Kyle Ekleberry (Cardington, OH)

Very helpful product. Easy way to turn you bottle stopper blanks down to size. It kind of taps the threads to aid in screwing the blank onto the bottle stopper. I would recommend this to anyone who turns stoppers.

Couldn't be easier, 11.12.2009

Reviewer: Francie Metschke (Avon, IN)

I just started turning and started with turning bottle stoppers for holiday gifts. This chuck and drill bit were so easy to use for a beginner. I have turned several and they look great!! It is an inexpensive way to start also.

Works Well, 11.10.2009

Reviewer: Charles Gies (Wellington, OH)

The stopper and mandrel work really well. The only shortcoming is the drilled hole is slightly small for the wooden dowels used for some of the stoppers. The screw type stoppers do work well though.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel/Chuck, 11.5.2009

Reviewer: Rexford Ham (Cantonment, FL)

I enjoy the bottle stopper mandrel/chuck. I am currently exploring other possible uses - maybe eggs? It is easy to set up and remove when finished.

handy tool, 11.3.2009

Reviewer: tony tomlinson (portland, OR)

Very handy tool. Saves me a lot of time when turning bottle stoppers. I was trying to mount the blank with a dowel inserted but the dowel would crack under turning pressure. This saves all the prep time and holds the blank with lots of "grab". Excellent craftmanship, good price, Thanks.

Complete with Drill Bit, 10.27.2009

Reviewer: Larry Moyers (San Lorenzo, CA)

I was pleasantly surprised that the 23/64 drill bit needed for the bottle stopper was included with the mandrel/chuck. Both worked great. The drilled hole created a non-slip fit for turning the top, and also a snug fit for the stopper. Other seniors in my turning class were going to order this kit as well.

Dawn, 10.27.2009

Reviewer: Dawn Weber (Cape Coral, FL)

The bottle stopper mandrel/chuck is excellent. Easy to use. Keeps the guess work out of the diameter of the hole you drill in the blank. It will match up to several kits which keeps it easy and convenient.

Superb Bottle Stoppers, 10.15.2009

Reviewer: Fred Weiss (Oroville, CA)

This tool minimizes tool change over in creating the stoppers. It allows creating and finishing in one step and is ready for the stopper (from PSI) all in one step. The price is right. The tool is durable and very easy to use. Keep up the good work PSI.

Works great-as advertised, 9.23.2009

Reviewer: Robert Svoboda (Hoquiam, WA)

Easy to use and well made. I have turned numerous stoppers with it and it still looks and operates as if it were new.

Wine bottle stoppers, 9.15.2009

Reviewer: Robert Cervenka (Waseca, MN)

The mandrel works fine for attaching the wodden blanks to the lathe. The drill bit is a nice touch in that it guarantees that the correct size of hole will be drilled, to insure the stopper will fit properly. Now all you need is a low price finishing kit for very small quantity builds.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel/Chuck 1, 9.9.2009

Reviewer: Kent Wright (Madison, WI)

Mandrel is nice and easy to use, the supplied drill bit is a little large 23/64 but I use a smaller bit and a 3/8 tap to get good threads in harder woods

Chuck, 8.24.2009

Reviewer: Jeffrey Lightcap (Ephrata, PA)

Works great

Perfect!, 8.18.2009

Reviewer: Justin Leiwig (Huber Heights, OH)

I think this is the best mandrel for bottle stopper turning hands down. I do think that they need to either ditch the drill bit that comes with it, or send out a correct size drill bit for 3/8x16 tpi thread. I bought a drill bit and tap combo at the local home center and it works like a charm!

Bottle Stopper Mandrell, 8.17.2009

Reviewer: Larry Sides (Augusta, GA)

I was not happy with the bottle stopper mandrel. The mandrel itself works fine, but the drill bit sent with it (23/64) is too large. I had to go out and buy another bit (11/32)to make it work. In my opinion, the threads were cut wrong on the mandrell.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel, 8.12.2009

Reviewer: Steve Woodham (Tifton, GA)

This is the best mandrel I have tried. It works great with no problems.

Nice Tool, 8.4.2009

Reviewer: James Smith (Smiths Grove, KY)

This is great addition to the lathe, especially if you plan to turn several of these bottle stoppers. The only problem I have has been with some of the softer woods, the screw should have had a more aggressive thread pattern. Otherwise, I'm very pleased.

Great chuck, 7.27.2009

Reviewer: James Bryant (Leesburg, GA)

Makes turning bottle stoppers easy and safe. I made several bottle stoppers using this chuck and it was easy to use and fast.

Works great!, 7.7.2009

Reviewer: Jesse Piehl (Cedar Falls, IA)

High quality mandrel that makes bottle stoppers a lot easier to make. As another review said the drill bit is a little bit too big. Drill it smaller, tap it and it works great!

Bottle Stopper Mandrel, 6.30.2009

Reviewer: Lory Ward (Indianapolis, IN)

Excellent tool for making custom bottle stoppers in no time. This tool allows you to focus on the design without worrying about getting the setup perfect. This mandrel does it for you. HIGHLY recommended.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel, 6.23.2009

Reviewer: james stottlemyer (waynesboro, PA)

Great tool. It really simplifies the process to make a bottle stopper. It is well designed and easy to use. I like the fact that the blank mounts on threads of the same size as the stopper.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel, 5.22.2009

Reviewer: Phillip Christy (Lexington, NC)

This is a great tool addition to my lathe - very easy to work with -

bottle stopper chuck and bit, 5.12.2009

Reviewer: Ira Gold (North Fort Myers, FL)

To begin, the 23/64ths bit is too large for the chuck and too tight for the stopper kit. The chuck itself seems to be off center. PSI has been good about trying to correct the situation by sending additional sets, but each had the same result. The chucks have been used on different machines by different turners with the same result, the blank is not round in the end.

Useful but note..., 5.5.2009

Reviewer: Nathan Green (Fordland, MO)

This is a cheap and easy way to mandrel for bottle stoppers. For the price, well worth it. However, as noted in other reviews, I found it easier to drill 5/16 and tap 3/8-16. The supplied drill bit made too loose a fit for the mandrel.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel, 4.29.2009

Reviewer: Butch Birdsong (Brandon, MS)

What can I say? It's just a straight up simple tool. It's a well built sturdy chuck for making bottle stoppers. If you're gonna make bottle stoppers, you need this tool!

Easy to use and great fun, 4.14.2009

Reviewer: Jim Townsend (Blowing Rock, NC)

Turn great bottle stoppers in just a few minutes. Impress friends or make items for sale. If one does not have waste material for blanks, the various woods in the Penn State catalog are interesting.

Great product, 3.31.2009

Reviewer: David Crowder (Centreville, VA)

Great. The diameter of the chuck happens to be the diameter of the BS stoppers, and makes it easier to produce a good looking product.

mandrel chuck, 3.31.2009

Reviewer: Robert Davis (Roseburg, OR)

Easy to use and works just the way you would like.

Works Well, 3.24.2009

Reviewer: Paul Bonanno (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Works as designed. Use a smaller bit, and tap the threads in your stock if you are using a softer wood.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel/Chuck, 3.14.2009

Reviewer: Thomas Eddins (Stanardsville, VA)

I used the 23/64" bit and drilled a hole in a piece of maple. Unfortunately there was no threading the mandrel. The mandrel just slipped into the hole. I guess a 11/32" bit would do the trick if you had one! I used a 5/16" bit but it was a little too tight! It's a good idea and it's priced right if it would only work as described.

Much easier way to make a bottle stopper., 3.14.2009

Reviewer: Chris Jones (Cypress, TX)

Makes making bottle stoppers much easier with only having to use headstock.

chuck for wine stopperes, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Eugene Axelrad (Coconut Creek, FL)

Everything was perfect and very easy, EXCEPT we had difficulty removing the work from the chuck. We solved by using a 3/8 in. tap in drilled hole before screwing work onto chuck. This made removal of work much easier.

Bottle stopper chuck, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Fran Lynch (Lynn, MA)

This has made turning stoppers much easier than before. Many of the steps have been eliminated and blanks don't go flying off the chuck anymore.

Bottle stopper mandrel/chuck 1, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: John G. Spitzenberger (Kailua Kona, HI)

I love the mandrel/chuck. The 23/64" drill bit has me puzzled. It's so big that only Ebony is hard enough that you can screw it on the chuck without it slipping. Its extra work, but I prefer to drill a 5/16" hole, run a 3/8-16 tap in it and then I can turn the top of the bottle stopper and just screw it onto the metal stopper; usually without glue. I use the mandrel/chuck double duty. After drilling and tapping the blank, I mount it on the chuck on my regular lathe and turn the profile. Then I move the entire chuck with profile to my ornamental lathe for detailing.

Bottle stopper mandrel, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Bob Rowe (Los Altos Hills, CA)

3/8" mandrel holds workpiece more securely than other 1/4" mandrels. It's short length allows turning shorter stoppers.

Mandrel chuck, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Alvin Freed (Crowley, LA)

I have not used this product yet but I am confident it will work well.

Loved it, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Steven Adams (Halifax, PA)

I found that in using this in conjunction with the tailstock it added rigidity and concentricity while turning.

Bottle Stopper Mandrel, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Mark HOWARD (Happy Valley, OR)

Excellent mandrel, but get rid of your drill bit and go with a 5/16" bit. I have 3 of these and will probably be getting a couple of more.

Well Worth The Money, 3.10.2009

Reviewer: James B Fischer (Belleville, MI)

The bottle stopper mandrel chuck makes it very easy and quick to chuck up a bottle stopper blank. The hole made by the mandrel chuck is reused to assemble the stopper. A great time saver.

Makes stoppers a snap to turn, 1.17.2009

Reviewer: Shannon Rogers (Bel Air, MD)

Been using this mandrel for over 3 years and have turned more stoppers than I can count. Make sure you drill the mounting hole deep enough in your blank or the blank will bottom out and be loose on the mandrel. I drill it just a shade over 3/4 and the blank snugs up nicely. I turned a stopper using this mandrel on my podcast, The Renaissance Woodworker, and you can find that episode here: http://rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog/?p=127

Best and easiest mandrel out there!!, 11.1.2008

Reviewer: TOM PRATT (Nampa, ID)

I have been using this mandrel for over a year now and it really makes turning bottle stoppers a breeze!! You just drill a hole centered in the end of your bottle stopper blank (if it's soft wood), screw it onto the mandrel and start turning. If it is a harder wood, I tap it with a 3/8" x 18 tap then turn as usual. Turning a #BS3 Combo Stopper/Cork Screw Kit? Drill a 5/8" hole with a Forstner bit about 1/4" deep. Change to a 5/16" Forstner bit and drill an additional 3/4" to 7/8" deep. Changing to a 5/16” bit allows for a little better bite into the wood when you have the extra ¼” gap before you get the threads of the mandrel up to the recessed 5/16” hole. Follow the soft wood or hard wood directions as above. This will recess the top of the cork screw portion into the stopper and allow the edge of the stopper to blend right in to the side of the stopper. It makes a very clean look.