Turning a pen

Very informative Harry. Personally, I like the final out-come. Looks very elegant.

-- A family man has photos in his wallet where his money used to be.

Harry,
Your decision is a good one, I believe.
Roger

-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)

Nice photo shoot…

... one of these days… I might get interested in making pens…
... right now, I just buy’em as we need them… LOL

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Great blog Harry. I like that jig.
The only trouble I had with super glue was the occasional blowout from the brass sleeve.
I now use ‘Vise’ poly glue (Bunnings have it). It’s great for this sort of application because as it sets it expands into all the gaps and provides a perfect seal.
The disadvantage is it needs to be left a few hours to set but with us retirees time is no problem.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Hi Tony, I’ve heard the same comments about super glue but possibly because of beginners luck, I’ve never had that problem. As for using a glue that takes hours to set, no way, at age 78+ I don’t even buy green bananas!
Regarding the jig, it has done a lot of work and when I saw a beautiful looking “pen press” on Timberbit’s web site at only $A40.00 I bought one only to find that all it was good for was as a drilling vice. I modified it and now it’s a complete pen press. I’m sure that many members would have bought one of these, even a local friend of mine, bought one well before me and unknown by me and it was still in it’s box, having been found to be useless. He was amazed when he saw mine and how well it performed and needless to say, his is now the same as mine, in fact better because I made mine only for slimlines whereas I made him two sets of adaptors, the second set for bullet pens. Only last evening I produced a pdf showing how I adapted the jig and will post it in the near future.

-- Harry, Western Australia

Great feedback Harry. The only thing I would add is that I have made dozens of pens and most turn out OK. But when I turn down very hard woods like gidgee I find the Vise glue adds that little bit of extra security.
78 years young mate, your looking good.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Very nice pen. I like the shape!! thanks for the pictorial demo. I’m sending it to my friend in Illinois to show him how you do it!!..............Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!