Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Dec 16, 2008 10:04am | #1

   Mike,

   Pen mills really go a long ways towards making your pen go together well. They practically guarantee that the end is square to the tube. The downside is that you need a different size shaft or adapter for each tube size you work with. Expensive. However, there are other ways to do that.

   After gluing the wood on to the tubes, you can turn them round, then use a miter gauge and sander to true the ends. Or you can use my method - the drill press. I use a 7/8" forstner bit in the drill press with the same set up used to bore the holes in the blanks. With the tubes glued into the wood, I place the blanks back on the drill press (use a vise or some clamping jig) and square the ends. The key to the success with this procedure is having a perfectly square blank and flipping it the right way. I have had great success with this method, but don't know of anyone else who does this.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 17, 2008 03:11am | #2

   Chris , thanks for the reply.good advice.I probably will end up getting a mill(s) just because i love to spend money at lee valley. Have you made many pens? I haven't done any turning before although  i always have wanted to...I was consideing buying a midi lathe with extension, but there is a woodworking club 3 blocks from my house i am going to check out. they have a pretty well equiped shop, so i can try a few things to see if i might not be better off going full size.thanks again for the reply .

   Mike

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Dec 17, 2008 04:20am | #3

   The pen mill will be one of those purchases which you may hesitate to go through with, but will never regret.I have turned a couple dozen pens of various styles. I'm now at the point where I am comfortable mixing and matching pen parts to make custom kits. You should know that there is not much you can do that isn't correctable or repairable.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com) - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

   Edited 12/16/2008 8:21 pm by flairwoodworks

2. 
   nurseboy9999 | Dec 17, 2008 11:53pm | #4

   Never used a mill all I use is a miter saw (just watch the fingers).The best purchase is the centering vise for the press drill ,that took a lot of guess work out of centering .
   Good drill bits for the very hard woods is essential, a mini variable speed lathe is less than $200. and purchase a pen making kit which generally gives you 5 kits and all hardware for starting .
   I have made 200 pens and now have all the bushings nedded for all kinds of pens ,they are the easiest skill to learn ,
   HINT ,buy extra bags of tubes for the little incidents like splitting and chipping .LEE VALLEY HAS IT ALL.
   bob

   nurseboy9999
1. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 18, 2008 03:06am | #5

   thanks...Lee valley was where i saw the pen kits that sparked my interest originally. 200 pens eh?  how long does it usually take you? do you finish it in one sitting,  or do you prep blanks ,glue them and then finish them later? i am planning on getting a book or 2 .plus at the woodworking club where i just started going, they have turned a few pens themselves.so i should be in good hands. appreciate your input!

   Mike

1. 
   nurseboy9999 | Dec 19, 2008 02:32am | #7

   hi
   Don`t need books except to experiment.Instructions come with the kits and you can vary from there. I am limited in time so I cut out and drill and glue one day and next day I turn 4 to 6 pens all different syyles and shapes ,favorite is fountain pens.each pen takes about 1 hour beguinning to end ,if I do them all at once. The crazy glue sets in 2 min and is strong enough too turn.I like carrinuba wax the best for shine,
   Places to buy good hard wood is windsor ply wood ,or KJB hardwoods or Ottawa wood,only takes a few days to get orders in .Any piece of wood will work but hard woods polish the best ,my favorite is Madagascar Ebony, and Coccobolo,but there are a hundred types and can be verrrry expensive ,most difficult woods are african ebony ,very hard and never force the drill through because it will burn your bit and split when turning ,burls need a very gentle touch otherwise it chips.
   have fun it is very relaxing and friends just love gifts,I just give them away but they are worth $40.to $150. if you want to start selling. the first few will be give aways until you get the hang of it
   Pen kits can most easily be found @ leevalley ,but PenState has a larger selection and more expensive types for style
   bob

   nurseboy9999

1. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 19, 2008 03:18am | #8

   thanks for all your help...i will post some pics of my first decent work...might be a bit of practicing....hope not too much....Mike

    

3. 
   tinter | Dec 18, 2008 05:44am | #6

   Check out this website, I believe he is cheaper than Lee Valley. The products are great quality, Super fast shipping and he will usually throw in a freebie or two depending on the size of your order. he has everything you need to turn pens.  http://www.arizonasilhouette.com/index.html    Chris

4. 
   Cincinnati | Dec 19, 2008 04:45am | #9

   Mike,

   Not sure why my reply two or three days ago did not post.

   I recommend a carbide tip mill like the one at PennState:

   http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKTRIMKITC.html

   I owned two of the Wood River Blank Squaring Mills. The first one worked marginally but the second one would leave the barrel just proud of the blank end. It showed as poor workmanship on the pen.

   Pen turning is fun. I bought my 9 year old a Jet Midi 12x20 in early 2008 for his birthday. (You don;t need a bed extension.) We've done probably 100 pens. The only turning experience I had was I made a mallet handle and a shallow bowl 25 years ago. We learned pretty fast. I recommend the Kip and Rex Pen Turning DVD's for education.

   Greg

   •••••••

   Exo 35:30-35

1. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 19, 2008 05:33am | #10

   Thanks...if i understand correctly, the mill cleans out the tube(excess glue I imagine.) and squares the end.If you dont use a mill and just square the end  , do you run into problems because the tube wasnt reamed out? your thoughts people...your thoughts........Mike

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Dec 19, 2008 11:54pm | #11

   Mike,The pilot bit on the mill will clean out the brass tube and the mill/cutter squares the face to the tube. The latter part is the more important feature of a pen mill. If the blank isn't square to the tube, the hardware will meet only at one point and have a gap at the other side.A thin knife will clean out any glue from the tube, as will a drill bit. Not ideal, but it works just fine. If you're of the mindset that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you can fill the end of the tube with raw potato before gluing the blank on. The potato keeps the glue out.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 20, 2008 07:08am | #13

   Hey Chris,

    When are you going to update your website?  I really enjoy your adventures, especially because they are local. where do you get your wood from . looks like a good stack. mine of late is small because of the downsizing, but i have a bunch of hardwood for turning so i feel ok!   maybe sometime in the future we could collaborate on a project and post then results on knots......let me know....yours woodworkingly,    Mike

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Dec 21, 2008 04:30am | #14

   Mike,You asked for it! Thanks for the interest in my site and my work. I think you'll find my latest news interesting! I have a friend in Burnaby, near BCIT who mills to my specs. We have a good deal - I build him stuff, he supplies me with wood! I can get his number if you like. The key is having space to dry it.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   gossamershavings | Dec 21, 2008 07:19am | #15

   Congrats on the biz news! the cards look great! the idea of the three and having them pick one is great too. I was at the club today...it's less than 3 blocks...too awesome.I had to go shopping  but i couldn't resist making something..my girlfriend was wanting a set of hooks by the front door for her keys...i milled a piece of maple, profiled the edges and a quick plane and a light sanding.a quick oiling and attached the hooks......fastest project in some time haha...less than an hour including having a peek around the shop.It's pretty well equipped...i was given space for a locker/clost, but i have to close it off. we can't use it on sunday(a few guys sneak in i hear....quiet work) because its in behind a church. i Guess i will be spending tommorrow sharpening my planes. i am off for 2 weeks, so I think i will have a try at turning. I have a fair bit of maple scraps to practise with. if i manage anything worthwhile, i will post a pick or 2.....good luck in the biz.....Mike

3. 
   flairwoodworks | Dec 31, 2008 07:04am | #16

   Mike,A key rack sure is a quick and easy project! This year, I gave my V carving gouge a work out and personalized all the gifts I gave. An easy way to add value. It is completely doable for even the most inept carver.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   Cincinnati | Dec 19, 2008 11:56pm | #12

   Yes. But I have used a clean toothpick or q-tip to clean it out as well and not needed a barrel reamer. The problem with the barrel reamer is that many blanks are not square to begin with. Then the drill bit may wander as you run the blank through the drill press. If you do not clamp it back in the vice the same way, you can damage the tube with the reamer. I have seen others put the barrel trimmer in a hand drill and let the tube be the guide.Greg

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   Exo 35:30-35<!---->