Barrel trimming

[jttheclockman]

I asked this question in another board but will put it here as well. How do you all trim your barrels when making metal pens??? I did not want to ruin a barrel trimmer using it on metal. Granted it is soft metals but will dull quickly. Thanks for the replys.

 

[Rudy Vey]

You got to "face off" the ends - I use a metal lathe and carbide inserts for all metal - hard or soft.

 

[jttheclockman]

Have had a couple people tell me this but the thing is you are facing off to the outside of the barrel when you chuck it up. What is to say the tube was drilled in straight?? It may not be parallel to the sides of the barrel. When you use a barrel trimmer you know the trimmer is 90 degrees to the tubes. I may just use one of my barrel trimmers and designate it to metals. I will learn to sharpen it more often. Hey I sharpen router bits, I guess I can sharpen a trimmer.