1″ X 8 Niles™ Mandrel

$23.50 with 7/16″ stub drill bit for the stainless steel inserts

$26.98 with 2 stub drill bits: 5/16″ and 11/32″    $27.70 value

$30.98 with 5/16″ and 11/32″ stub drill bits and 3/8″ tap   $32.95 value

This Niles ™mandrel threads onto the head stock spindle and has the unique tapered-cut flute making it the best self-tapping mandrel on the market. 

It has a 3/8″ x 16 tpi threaded stud that works with just about all the stoppers on the market and numerous other projects: ice cream scoop handles, shaving brushes, pizza cutters, etc. 

They have a black oxide coating for rust prevention.  The neck or step below the threaded stud is 13/16″ diameter which matches the tops of all my stoppers.

This mandrel does not use a draw bar.  It comes with 2 nylon spacers (a spare because you will lose one!) which are used to help keep the wood from locking on the mandrel as you turn it. Use a 1 1/16″ wrench on the flats to start turning mandrel off the spindle.

If you are making the whiskey stoppers, SS-620 and/or SS-630, you might like the mandrel adapters that are the same diameter as these 2 stopper styles.

*Tip: if the wood does get a death grip and you can’t get the project off the mandrel, put the whole thing in the freezer for 10 – 15 minutes and it will unthread once the metal shrinks.  Also try a little beeswax or soap on the mandrel before threading it into the wood.

The shorter stub drill bits won’t “wander” if they hit a tight wood grain.  The 5/16″ is the standard size when threading a 3/8″ hole; the 11/32″ is for dense wood, acrylic and resins.

The bottoming tap cuts threads all the way in unlike regular taps that leave about 1/4″ untapped and it makes threading quick and easy.

Check this page:  Mandrel Comparison if you are not sure which mandrel to purchase: this page explains the differences and usages.

Lathes Specifications: here is a list of lathe spindle sizes and Morse taper if you are not sure.

Basic bottle stopper turning video (threading the mandrel starts at about 3 min.): Roper Woodturning

Made in the USA (only in Missouri)

If you have any questions, email Carl Jacobson at nilesstopper@gmail.com or call 503-939-4565, PST.