When people ask, do you still say you are a "penturner" or do you just answer, "I grind em out!!"???
Hahahahah
Ed...!:biggrin:
I'm glad you mentioned that...!
You have no idea how many people I know that now are using the "Flap" discs but they are too embarrassed to say so, and admit it here or in public. Why...??? exactly for the very same reason, that made you made the above comment.
I understand perfectly what you mean, and I don't have any problems at all with it, after all just look at the many other ways pens are made today, including the most common mini metal lathes to cut and shape the pen barrels, where the automatic feed is used with specially made cutters for wood and acrylic materials.
Is this incorrect or a bad thing...??? hell no...! people have the right to use whatever they want to "achieve" the results required, and this is exactly the reason why I suggest this "Flap" disc method, particularly in cases where the blank or material to be made into a pen barrel is very fragile (soft, etc...!) or prone to splitting or blowing out.
Countless times we see folks here, pulling their hairs out from failed attempts at certain types of blanks, many of them admitting to have used all their stock of that particular type of blank and still didn't manage to make a single pen from them...!
now, that is desperation...! so why not give them an "option" / "solution" to their problem...???
Is that, really important how one achieves the so needed/intended results...??? in fact using a "Flap" disc(s) to reduce a normal pen blank size into a "semi-shaped" pen barrel, doesn't change the fact that before that barrel becomes really a pen, it will require all the normal processes of hand sanding and finishing methods each one of us would normally use.
Is someone using a "Flap" disc on their pen making process, less of a "pen-maker" because of that...??? absolutely not, in my opinion. In fact, the whole idea come from my experience and work as an also bowl maker where, this same ideological line of thinking did became an issue when the electrical tools were use to shape and sand some bowls, particularly the use of round head flat sanding pads, on a electric tool were used to sand the bowls in and out.
That did upset some more traditional turners that believed that, those using such techniques could not call themselves "Wood-turners"...!
not only I believe, that philosophy is wrong but I also thing that, is of no ones help to deny or hide any concept that can improve in some way, the final results...!
"Flap" discs have helped me considerably in all my wood-turning projects from big to small, from dealing with wood pieces/blanks/blocks/logs/etc...!, that would never been successfully and "safely" be finished or created. This safety issue can not be underestimated, even on pen making, if the use of a "Flap" disc in particular situations, can reduce the risk level to a minimum, I reckon is well worth it, regardless what others may thing...!:wink:
Interestingly, suggesting the "Flap" disc method to those that buy blanks from me, is like shooting myself in the foot, the less blanks they stuff-up, the less I will sell but, I don't really care at all. With this said, I can understand that those making a living at selling pen blanks, would probably prefer that I didn't suggest such simple method to resolve a big problem, to so many of other people out there but, in the end, I'm not either trying to give or take business to anyone, hold on a minute...!
I should start selling some "Flap" discs, huh...?. I'm simply "suggesting" a method/process/way to those that come up here asking for a solution to their problem...!:wink::biggrin:
So please Ed or anyone else, take my comment as an informative/explanatory one, not as an offense or a attempt to disrespect you or your opinion on this matter. I stand by some principals, one is, everyone has the right to have "an" opinion...!:wink:
Cheers
George
