Pen Turning Bushings - Organization

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tomdoughtyjr

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Oklahoma
Hi everyone!
We just got into pen turning and have been turning slim lines for a while. It has been great! Same mandril, drill bit, and bearings for all the many pens we have created so far. But.... now that we've learned some, we'd like to explore other pen styles and kits. What I am learning is as we find new and exciting kits to try, each is coming with their own needs for drill bits and bearings.

I inherited a box of bearings that were not labeled and are not organized in anyway... so I don't know what is what. I feel like I have to start from scratch. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to keep the bearings organized and labeled so that i know what is what in the future?
 
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The Bushings and Tubes app costs a buck or so and is searchable. Links are on the Home Page. You can measure the bushing (they aren't call bearings normally) and the app will find any kits it will fit, then you can sort them and keep them in pill bottles, bead trays from the crafts store, on nails or whatever way makes you smile.
 
I dont store my bushings by pen name or part number. I store my bushings by I.D x O.D. This way I can use certain bushings for multiple pen kits.
Before I start making a pen I measure the Tube I.D. (first sort tier of arranging the bushings) and then the hardware O.D. (second sort tier of bushing arrangement).
I've also found that if I have a pen kit that is, for whatever reason, unidentified, I just do the measurements and get the corresponding bushings.
Currently I use a set of 1"x1" snap top boxes that come in a larger tray (Harbor Freight?) that have the above dimensions labeled.
Works for me but I have been a Machinist or Quality employee for all my working life and measuring things is second nature to me.
 
I dont store my bushings by pen name or part number. I store my bushings by I.D x O.D. This way I can use certain bushings for multiple pen kits.
Before I start making a pen I measure the Tube I.D. (first sort tier of arranging the bushings) and then the hardware O.D. (second sort tier of bushing arrangement).
I've also found that if I have a pen kit that is, for whatever reason, unidentified, I just do the measurements and get the corresponding bushings.
Currently I use a set of 1"x1" snap top boxes that come in a larger tray (Harbor Freight?) that have the above dimensions labeled.
Works for me but I have been a Machinist or Quality employee for all my working life and measuring things is second nature to me.
Ahh, your machinist background is showing through....lol! I can't tell you how many kit pen builders I know or speak to at events or club meetings that don't own or use a caliper or micrometer. I am not trying to be insulting in any way, but most think 'match the bushing to the pen kit' - no measuring required! All goes fine until the bushings either wear out or the storage unit drops to the floor and the bushings spray out all over the place. Lot's of kits use similar size bushings, so your advice is a good one, but it is more fun to just keep buying stuff!!! Lol
 
Here's my process. I just ended up with s lot of bushings over 20 years. Not worth my time to need to check for what "could" work.
 

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This kind of is, but is not an answer to your question, but for what it's worth...

I use cheap calipers to measure the pen hardware and match it to the barrel size, just using whatever bushings fit the tube size to hold it until I get it rounded out and close to proper size. Then I switch to TBC (turning between centers), which you will see mentioned around here. It's more accurate than bushings IMO, and I don't have hundreds of bushing sets around. Some would rather not go to the trouble, but it seems like less trouble to me.

Otherwise, you will likely have to measure, sort, and catalog all those bushings. Once things are actually organized, it's a lot easier to keep them that way. The app or the docs in the resources section are going to be your best reference to match up the sizes with the kits.
 
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This kind is, but is not an answer to your question, but for what it's worth...

I use cheap calipers to measure the pen hardware and match it to the barrel size, just using whatever bushings fit the tube size to hold it until I get it rounded out and close to proper size. Then I switch to TBC (turning between centers), which you will see mentioned around here. It's more accurate than bushings IMO, and I don't have hundreds of bushing sets around. Some would rather not go to the trouble, but it seems like less trouble to me.

Otherwise, you will likely have to measure, sort, and catalog all those bushings. Once things are actually organized, it's a lot easier to keep them that way. The app or the docs in the resources section are going to be your best reference to match up the sizes with the kits.
I do this method also only many times I just start with TBC and go down all the way to finished O.D.
 
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