Collection: Lathe Mandrels

A lathe mandrel is a cylindrical, tapered rod (or spindle) used to hold and support a workpiece while it rotates on a lathe. It’s not the same as the lathe’s spindle or arbor, which holds cutting tools; instead, a mandrel grips the workpiece itself, often inside a drilled or bored hole, to keep it centered and stable during machining. A mandrel works by providing a secure, frictional or mechanical grip on the workpiece.