Fixture for Pen Mandrel

I was asked the question as well as a couple PM’s asking about the mandrel I used to turn a recently posted duck call. I thought if 1 or 2 are asking, there are probably several more that might be wondering but just never asked. I just made these cones since the barrel i.d. of the duck calls are larger than the knurled nut on the mandrel. I could have used large washers on each end but then I’d be using chisels near the metal to finish out the ends of the workpiece. Using these gives me access to most of the ends and if I slip and hit one of the cones, well, it’s just wood. Plus, if I scar one up really badly, I can just turn another one. Hope the pictures explain better than I can describe…..

-- If you don't have time to do it right, do you have time to do it twice?