Got to start somewhere

[jtalbert]

Hello,

I have been reading the post and watching some video on pen turning for quite a while now. Also doing some reading on pen turning from other sources.

I would like to thank everyone for all the excellent post and informative informaion I have recieved from this site. I would also like to say that there is some real turning tallent here based on the information I have read and the pictures I have looked at in the photo threads.

I have been setting up shop (a very small shop I must say). I have also cut some blanks from cherry and walnut. I believe I have enough equiptment to get started. I am going to try and use a Shopfox mini lathe to turn with. (may not be the answer). I will be using a PSI Maxi Mandrel that I ordered online. I have also purchased a few 7mm slimline kits from Pens of Color to get started with and see if I can accomplish a decent looking pen.

I'm using a cross vice from Harbor Freight and a drill press to drill the blanks. I may need to go a different route on the vice, but I thought I would try this. I think I am going to try and use the drill press as a pen press.

Does the above sound like I'm headed in the right driection?

Again thanks for all the excellent post, and any help would be most welcome

 

[LostintheWoods]

While not the "Ultimate" set-up, you do indeed have a decent starting line-up, and it also appears that you are aware of the immediate weak links (the vise, for instance). One thing you absolutely need is a method of squaring the ends of the blank to the tube, so that when you press in the individual parts, they will line up to your pen body, with no gaps. This can be accomplished with a pen mill, or with a disc sander with a jig, or some other manner of keeping the blank square to the disc. Good luck, and looking forward to seeing your pens! Your Shop Fox lathe should work just fine for pens, at least well enough to "get your feet wet".

 

[jtalbert]

Thanks for the input.
I do have a 12" disc sander, although a bit of a overkill for a 3/4" blank, I was going to try and use it anyway. I will need to make myself a jig to hold it square though.
I'll try and post some pictures of how things come out if they look picture worthy

Thanks again

JT

 

[its_virgil]

Here is an excellent squaring jig for a disk sander.
http://content.penturners.org/articles/2005/blanksquaring.pdf

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Originally posted by jtalbert
<br />Thanks for the input.
I do have a 12" disc sander, although a bit of a overkill for a 3/4" blank, I was going to try and use it anyway. I will need to make myself a jig to hold it square though.
I'll try and post some pictures of how things come out if they look picture worthy

Thanks again

JT

 

[Firefyter-emt]

If you plane to use a cross vice, you may want to make a set of "V" block jaws to grab the blank. You may be able to drill and tap some holes in the jaw faces if there is no other way to secure them. You just want to make very sure they are lined up. I would also think about making a "T" shaped platform the clamp in the cross vice. This will give you a nice platform to press the pens togather.

I would just buy a pen mill cutter and makes 7mm sleeves for larger kits. Much better than the disk sander

 

[its_virgil]

A pen mill is not necessarily better at squaring pen blanks than a disk sander. It is just a different way to square them. I use a disk sander to do pen blank squaring and I also get to use the disk sander for other chores. I can't do much of anything else with a pen mill except square the ends of pen blanks.[] Just my thoughts...
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Originally posted by Firefyter-emt
<br />I would just buy a pen mill cutter and makes 7mm sleeves for larger kits. Much better than the disk sander

 

[Firefyter-emt]

Granted, but the effort into building the jig and making it dead on perfect seems like an awful lot of work for something that the pen mill does for very little money. I see people here spend more money than that on a pen blank... Just my opinion, what ever works for you is the way to go I say.

PS.. say you wanted to recess a 1/4" bolt into a board. You could drill a 1/4" hole and use the pen mill to cut a nice 3/4" recessed hole for the bolt. See, there... now you know of TWO uses for the pen mill. []