What tools are needed for pen turning?

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

I have a HF 34706 lathe and would like to buy every tool necessary, but no unncessary tools, to turn pens. Can someone recommend all the tools I need?

I see they have mandrels for either a 1" X 8 tpi or an insert for a MT2 taper. Which would be better?

What other "bits" do I absolutely need? Note I have a bandsaw, 16 speed floor model drill press and cabinet saw. Now I'm not talking about the pen kits here, but the tools needed to turn them on the lathe and assemble them.

Thanks,

Dave

[Tom Hintz]

See the link below for a story about turning pens that shows all the fun stuff you can get to make it easier and more fun. I tried cheaping this out and had problems. got the right stuff and pens are fun again!

http://www.newwoodworker.com/turning/trnpens.html

[Tom Miller]

quote:Originally posted by DaveinFloweryBranchGA

I see they have mandrels for either a 1" X 8 tpi or an insert for a MT2 taper. Which would be better?

I'm gonna say neither.
Do you have a Jacobs chuck for your lathe? If not, I'd recommend you get one. Then, I'd recommend buying just the replacement rods for either type of mandrel, cut off the part that screws into the MT, and chuck it into your Jacobs chuck.

Or, use the replacement rods for this type of mandrel, so you don't have to cut off any threaded portion:



They cost about $3 at Woodcraft.

The reason for this approach is two-fold:
1. There's too great a chance of built-in excessive runout when they cut the threads for attaching these rods to the MT. Or, in the case of the mandrel in the picture, too much chance of the collet not tightening evenly, and on axis. (Compare this collet to the Beall collets, for instance, and it's not hard to imagine how this could be!)
2. This approach is cheaper, assuming you have a Jacobs chuck, which is a very useful thing to have.

Regards,
Tom

[Whaler]

I started out with the Professional Pen Turning Mandrel from Woodcraft, the runout was terrible. I then went to a Jacobs chuck, not much better. I then bought the Woodcraft collet chuck set and it is sweet. Like Tom, I use the Woodcraft replacement mandrel shafts.

[Jim Boyd]

And here is some other good news. You already have a drill chuck. The one in your drill press will work with your lathe. All you need is a drill drift to remove it from the drill press. You should have gotten one with the drill press if you purchased new. For a new turner I would say a gouge and scraper to turn the pens. A skew will come later I would also opt for a barrel trimmer SET. A pack of micro mesh sand paper. The drill bit for your particular pen kit and extra bushings are nice to have. Somebody else speak up if I missed anything or refer to Tom's good link

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Tom and Jim,

Yes, I do have a jacobs chuck and taper for my lathe. And if it isn't within reasonable runout spec., I now know I can try the one out of the drill press. That solves the mandrel problem.

Does the replacement mandrel comes with bushings and a knurled nut? If not, It'd be cheaper just to buy the set and toss the unnecessary items.

Thanks for the link Tom. I hope you don't mind, but I cut and pasted your article into a word doc so my LOML can look at them. She doesn't care much for looking at them on the computer, but she'll look at them if they're printed out and I'm using the pen turning as a way to get her started with and used to the lathe, as she's a bit intimidated by the size of my lathe, but says she wouldn't be afraid to turn the pens.

Whaler,

Do you have a link to that set? I looked on the Woodcraft website and couldn't find any but a Beall set or is that the Beal set?

Thanks for the information fellas. Now all I have to do is figure out where the least costly place is to get the rest of the stuff:

1. Barrel-trimmer

2. Metric drill for the style pen being turned (I've seen where some mandrels come with 5 bushing, a knurled nut and a 7MM drill bit. Would this be the best way to go cost wise or are these include drill bits junk?)

3. Drilling vise (I think I'll make one like Tom did, unless there's a place to get one real cheap.)

4. Pen press (Cost is an object, but this may be worth it, based on Tom's article and losing good pens. I've read where another fella used his drill press as a pen press, wonder how that works. He didn't include any pictures, sadly.)

Thanks again for all the help,

Dave

[Whaler]

Dave

The Woodcraft part number for the collet chuck is 146110.

Looks to me like most bases are coverd except for sharpening. I would suggest the Woodcraft slow speed ginder and a Wolverine jig. Woodcraft numbers are 144290 and 125676, the grinder does go on sale quite often.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Dick,

Thanks for the information on the Woodcraft tools. I already have a slow speed wet wheel grinder, so I'll just need to get a jig for the tools. I'm thinking I could likely get by with my HF HSS tool set to turn pens, unless there's something I'm missing about the pen turning sets.

The collett set is a bit out of my price range right now, but perhaps I'll look into it at a later date when I'm expanding the inventory. I wonder if the less expensive Beal set they have might do the job. I'm also looking at one of these as a live center, because it's a little more blunt and would work with the mandrel perhaps a bit better:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ProductID=1189

[bmyers]

The pen press is on sale until the end of the Oct (i think)
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=3988

Unless you want to go this route:
http://www.woodturningonline.com/Tur...bly_press.html

I think it was this set that was on sale when i bought it

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=791

Set of 7 Metric Brad Point Bits #11Y80 Price: $19.99


The are not in the pen section at woodcraft, so they are a little cheaper.

Barrell Trimmer et al: These guys sell everything that you find in a pennstate catalog but cheaper. I mean it's the same thing. Get on their mailing list for specials too.
WoodTurningz - Ryan [Ryan@WoodTurningz.com]

I ended up with this mandrel although I don't remember paying this much for it. Pennstate/Ryan might be cheaper and you get some spacers.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=1608

The Woodcraft pen vise is on sale this month too:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=4365

Good luck and post your pens on the site when you get some! It'll be about a $400 pen!

Bill

[Whaler]

Dave

I found that the live centers had to much of a point to fit the end of a mandrel so I knocked the point off of one on the grinding wheel and it works much better.

The Beall system gets very expensive. The chuck is $86.99 and then the collets are $20.99 each. The Woodcraft set is by far the best way to go when you are ready for one.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Jeesh, by the time I buy all this stuff, I'll have spent more than the lathe just to turn pens. Hmmm.....where did I read something about this before?

[Jim Boyd]

quote:Originally posted by DaveinFloweryBranchGA

Jeesh, by the time I buy all this stuff, I'll have spent more than the lathe just to turn pens. Hmmm.....where did I read something about this before?

Someone hear violins?

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Jim,

First it was that BT3K thingie a couple years back and now this. Why do I get the feeling you're enjoying this?

BTW, I still have my BT3K even though I bought a cabinet saw. I like it better for most things I do, except the bit stuff and rough cut lumber. Those I process on the cabinet saw beastie.

[pnctar]

A barrel trimmer is a must. IMHO the combo kit from Penn State/Ryan is the best bang for the buck.

Invest is the Micro Mesh to 12,000 grit. You'll also need glue ... my personnal preference is Gorilla glue or Titebond III. Learning to finish will also require pen polishes, BLO, CA glue, dyes, wax, etc.

For a pen press all you need is a clamp. I use a 3/4 pipe clamp that has UHMW attached to the faces.

Since you also have a BS, make sure you keep all the scraps from your pens. They'll come in real handy when you start contrasting your woods.

BTW, have fun and I hope LOYL enjoys turning those pens!

[germdoc]

Quick question--

I have a 40" lathe that I will be using for spindles, candelsticks, etc. Is it suitable for pen turning, or would I be better off getting a mini-lathe for pens? On that note, any thoughts on the Wilton mini-lathe on sale at Menards for real cheap?