Finally, I was able to complete this, but had to resort to drilling the aluminum before glue-up. Ninety degree hole, then elongated to accommodate the tube at a forty-five degree angle. Two-part epoxy was fine, whereas it had failed when I tried to drill the blank and metal after glue-up. I note that, for me, this is doable but not enjoyable.
Aluminum accent stripe
- Thread starter JBarry
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jttheclockman
Member
Looks good. As was noted when drilling metals at an angle like that, there is a ton more stress on the glue joints and more failures. It is possible to do but a good sharp bit is needed and can not use brad point bits.
Kenny Durrant
Member
Nice job Barry. Heat causes the glue to break down. As mentioned before metal just increases the heat. In case you haven't tried this I've made splints and glued or taped to the blank before drilling. It really helped me in several cases. It should help with the stress put on the blank not only downward but wanting to slide as well.
SteveJ
Member
I find there are a lot of segmenting that is doable but not enjoyable! Hence they only get done once!
moke
Member
In the past I have done that a fair amount. I found that going extremely slow helps, but more than that I turn it round to 1/2" or 5/8, measuring that with a 1/2" or 5/8 open end wrench as a gauge, then put it in a Collet chuck with the joint inside the collet. Works great to drill, but still go slow, backing out frequently and blowing it out with air for cooling and to get the chips out.
Yes it is a PITA to segment and subsequently turn and drill, but to me the effort is worth it in the end....or most of the time. I once made this segmented blank, and it kept coming apart...like 6 or 7 times. It was difficult not throw it....which I have in the past, and it did not do good things for the blank....I did have a blank that had more air time than the Wright Bros once tho, and I did eventually finish it.
Nice looking pen tho....good job!
Yes it is a PITA to segment and subsequently turn and drill, but to me the effort is worth it in the end....or most of the time. I once made this segmented blank, and it kept coming apart...like 6 or 7 times. It was difficult not throw it....which I have in the past, and it did not do good things for the blank....I did have a blank that had more air time than the Wright Bros once tho, and I did eventually finish it.
Nice looking pen tho....good job!
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jttheclockman
Member
Again this come up and I asked last time but got no response so will ask again here. I would like to see a blank that is segmented wrapped in popsicle sticks or gauze or whatever else people use to keep the blank from exploding. I would like to see how you get that blank square in a chuck so that you drill dead center of the blank which many times is so important when doing segment work. Lets see all the photos. tell us what chuck you use and how you obtain this. Now if you are going to tell me you only surround the section where the segmenting is done and you leave a section off to grab with a chuck I want to see that too because again unless you support the entire blank you have weak joints that can snap off. I would like to learn this method. I have a couple blanks built that I just do not dare to drill because I know what will happen. Thanks.
I have done it with wood strips. So say I have a blank that is .800 square, and I should say I make all my segmented blanks square. I then make strips around .188 thick and then I glue them on each side. Since the blank is square and the strips are the exact same thickness, the blank remains square for drilling. I don't do it often but when I've needed it, it has worked. I can't imagine using gauze but it must have worked for others. Also I just have used my pen jaws for drilling.
jttheclockman
Member
I too always work off a square blank. I guess if the strips are equal thickness you have a fighting chance. But they need to be adhered to that blank all around. As I said I have a couple blanks that need some real tender care to get drilled. Going to have to study on this some. Thanks.
Yes I epoxy glue them all the way around.