I understand what you are saying but I can cut off a bit of a square blank in no time. I have done time and motion study so I'll compare the time to cut on the BS and turn to dimension as opposed to turning the square blank down on the lathe. As for carbide tools, I can't see duplicating what I have now.
My question to you is are you really in that much of a hurry to make a pen. ?? As for carbide tools go, you are into this hobby alot now so what is a good carbide cutter and all I am saying is a round cutter will do the trick believe when I say this. I was hesitant when I started also then went to carbide and made a world of difference. Now all I am doing here is sharing what knowledge I gathered on my own and from other members over the years. No I do not make 2000 pens and nor will I ever do. but if you are into mass producing then having stations to do certain task is very good for you. Everyone has their method and what works for them If you feel the need to sand, cut, or route corners go for it and have fun. But learn to use the turning tools and you will be that much further ahead of the curve. I will not argue that some materials are harder than others but there is nothing harder than turning a segmented blank with metals and acrylics in it.
You are right John. There is no Man Code or Women Code when it comes to doing anything in the world. Many times there is no exact way to do things but a multiple of ways to get the job done. You want to do the job in the safest way and easiest way. If using a router or a sander or a bandsaw or a tablesaw to cut the blanks down to a better size to work with and save from turning so much material off on the lathe than by all means do so but again now you are introducing tools that are even more dangerous than what you started out to use to get to that final result. Working with such a small piece of material will require safety jigs and clamps for holding it as you pass it through a higher speeding object such as a blade or router bit. Router bits can cause the same shock waves and create the same chipping in certain materials so be aware of that. With woods it can cause rip out if fed the wrong way against the grain. Or if a wood is full of burls. To use those tools I sure hope you learned to use them properly and just with what you do John with all the videos and seminars there are those for those type tools out there too so please learn your tools. Which brings me back to the lathe and the very tools designed for using at the lathe. They make all kinds of turning tools to make the job easier and safer such as the Spindle master and now carbide cutters and just lately negative rake carbide cutter which are designed to help with the chip outs and rip outs. Why not work easier and learn these tools. Isn't that why they were designed for the lathe. ? I too have a landline and most calls come through on my cell. Does not mean I will be getting rid of the landline. Heck when I first got the cell phone I had to learn how to use it and I am sure with each new variation of cell phones being introduced to the public there is a learning curve. Same goes with computers and the list can go on. My bottom line point here is why not take the time to learn how to use the turning tools that can spin down a simple pen blank. If it requires purchasing a new tool or toy, why not. This is not a cheap hobby. The skills you develop on the lathe can translate to far more turning projects than a simple pen. Just like learning all those other tools that you are introducing into pen making can be used for other projects. But above all safety and knowledge are key factors. This is my last word from me on this subject because I do feel the push back as I thought there would be.I was taught to work smarter not harder. If you have a trick or tip to make the job easier why not do it. There's no "Man Code" that says you have to do everything a certain way. Isn't that why we have these other tools. My landline phone still works but I like to use my cell more often.
I agree , there's many ways to cross the finish line, the best way is the way that works for you.
And no one here is disputing this. As I said you can say that for anything we do in our life times. Words to live by. But from that same book we can learn things that are right and wrong to make a job safer so be careful.
I never heard this before and I love it.
He said it in answering a question about how he got to be 70 years old; but it seems applicable to any number of destinations.
To morph the thread even more. Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) married a Langdon from my hometown of Elmira NY. He is buried only a few yards away from where I grew up.
And then again another episode on Bonanza and Ben Cartwright was talking to him. Man sure gets around.