I think I'm sold on drilling on the lathe...

[BigguyZ]

I recently got a barracuda 2 chuck from Amazon. I thought it would be interesting to test out how easy it is to drill on the lathe. Frankly, I think it's just as easy as using the drill press, and just as quick too. I got the Rockler pen vise, but I'm starting to think that I'll keep that for the non-squared blanks...

What have you all found?

[Russianwolf]

put the blank between centers and turn it round, then chuck it and drill. no need for a drill press on pen blanks at all (except for antler)

[Uncle Cracker]

I have bad luck with Morse tapers, as the slightest bit of dust can make them wobble, so I try to keep the tooling in the lathe once I've got it zeroed in. So I still use the DP, rather than swapping centers for drill chucks for jaw chucks 5 times a day... Just easier for me that way. I know others have had better luck doing it other ways.

[skipwill]

put the blank between centers and turn it round, then chuck it and drill. no need for a drill press on pen blanks at all (except for antler)

Oooo..I REALLY hate turning antler!!!