Some Pens

[RayintheUK]

How hard is it to get started and how much do the pen kits cost.

It's not hard, Melissa. What you absolutely need is a pen drive (mandrel) with the correct Morse taper for your lathe. In addition, a barrel trimmer makes preparation easier and a tube mandrel makes inserting the tubes into the blanks a breeze. The rest, you can pretty well busk as you go along. Typically, it goes like this:

1) Get some suitable wood and cut it to pen blank size (approx 6" x 3/4" x 3/4"), or buy some pen blanks.

2) Obtain some pen kits for the type of pen you wish to make. These consist of the end (top) cap, with pocket clip, the tip, a decorative central ring and two brass inner tubes. You'll also need a drill bit of the correct size to drill your blanks for the brass tubes.

3) Measure the brass tubes, cut blanks into lengths just a hair longer, keeping the two pieces oriented together so that the grain runs correctly in the finished pen. Cut a small bird mouth out of a couple of pieces of softwood on the bandsaw. Make the cuts so that you can squeeze a pen blank in them to support it vertically in the drill press.

4) Drill the center hole in the blanks. Glue in the brass tubes with "super glue" or polyurethane glue. Leave to cure. Trim the ends so that the brass tubes and the wooden blanks are now perfectly square with each other at both ends.

5) Mount the two blanks on the drive mandrel, insert into your lathe and support the other end with the tailstock (live center, usually 60 degree point)

6) Turn your pen. Sand and finish. Remove from mandrel, keeping orientation. Assemble, using quick-grip clamp or other device that will exert steady pressure (drill press also works), or buy an assembly press.

7) Insert refill, test mechanism, assemble both halves - show your loved ones your first creation.

You can see some pen kits here. There are also mandrels and pen blanks on the site, but a search for "pen kits" will get loads of hits and a wide range of prices too.

If you think it would assist, I could do some progress pics the next time I turn one. HTH

Ray.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Thanks Ray that will help me greatly. Now to get Mark to clean up around the lathe. LOL.

[bigsteel15]

The best IMHO by far is
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/
Lee Valley has nice ones as well, mostly same as PSI.
Some unique items at all three.
Price wise I think woodturners has them all beat.

[RayintheUK]

Thanks Ray that will help me greatly.

OK, as promised, the "tutorial" is ready to view here when you get a chance.

Any further questions, just shout. HTH

Ray.

[JimShaver]

NIce work Ray,

Turning pens is an addiction....I know, I'm one of those guys!!

LOL



Take care,
Jim

[Pappy]

You honor your colleague's memory with the work!