I recently posted a question about turning corn cobs and rec’d advice which pointed me to a good web site on pen turning. Here’s my next question, aimed at experienced pen turners: exactly what basic equipment do I have to have just to start? I have a lathe and all the gouges and chisels. What I intend to do is just make a few pens and pencils from the abundance of scrap wood (and maybe a few corn cobs) I have, for Christmas presents. I don’t intend to sell them or make them by the hundreds.
From the catalogs it looks like I need a pen turning mandrel, and correct sized bushings and drill bits; but do I actually NEED the other stuff advertised, such as:
pen mill (for squaring the ends and remobing dried glue)
pen press (for inserting the parts)
pen center drilling vise.
If I get into this and find I really like it, I can buy the other accessories later but to start off, can I get by with just the mandrel, bushings and bit? Thanks much. Gary
Replies
I just started pen turning myself about 2 weeks ago.
Pen Mill - yes
Press - could use a vise but may scratch the parts
Self ctr vise - if you have a good setup on your press, then probably not
"tip" the very 1st one I made had a chunk of metal inside the pen tip from the factory that I didn't see. Couldn't get it out once it was assembled. Look thru the parts before assembling because they will not come apart without the disassembly kit.
The Pen mill is not necessary, Slice a potato 1/4-3/8" thick slice and stab the tube into it to prevent glue from getting in. As to squaring off the ends simply turn the full length blanks, with tube inserted, till they are just round, remove from mandrill and set them in a V block and trim the ends on a disc sander. Use your drill press for the press. Build a wood "anvil" with the appropriate countersink for the tip, and turn a wood or plastic "bung" (glue on a leather pad if desired)that will fit in the chuck. My self centering vise is home made from two scrap 4 X 4 X 8" squared up with vertical V groves cut 1/3 the width of the blanks. drill holes at opposite endes of new jig for all-thread and use large plastic jig 2 or 3 point wing nuts to create the drilling vise.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Thanks to all who replied; I rec'd some useful advice, which I expected.
Also, Bruce: a POTATO slice to keep the glue out of the tube you say? By gosh, I'll have to try that one.
Thanks, Gary
DM,
check the classifieds here - I have some of the items you are looking for (pen mill) plus a few pen kits from woodcraft with the proper bushings and drill bits, all new and unused. Cleaning out some stuff in my shop, and no longer have the lathe....
To answer your questions about what do you need to turn pens -
Bushings are usually specific to a particular pen kit - you need to pick out which pen kit you like and then buy the appropriate bushings. Same goes for the drill bit to drill the pen blank - some kits use different size tubes, thus the need for different sized drill bits. As the other poster suggested, a pen press is handy but not a necessity. Same with the pen drilling vise.
Good luck with the turning.
Lee
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