Blunt barrel trimmer???

[LittleMissCreative]

Hi,

I've only used my barrel trimmer ( came with a pen start up kit) on six pens, and it seems to have gone blunt. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong, i.e, applying to much pressure when drilling at high speed. It also seems loose as it freely moves up and down the shaft by a mil or two.

There is so much to learn with his pen making malarkey. Lol! :book::biggrin:

Thanks.

Ruth.

 

[Buckeye]

There should be a grub screw and an allen key to tight it up. Like any tool that cuts you need to sharpen it when it's no longer cutting well. I have two barrel trimmers and neither of them was very sharp when I got them, a touch up with a diamond lap soon brings the sharpness back.

Peter

 

[Phil Dart]

That's normal Ruth. The difference is that you've had the sense to realise it. Many people plough on with a blunt trimmer and wonder why the results are not good. You can touch it up with a diamond slip or if your trimmer has four blades (much better than six in my opinion) you can often put it to whatever it is you use to sharpen your tools.

What you don't realise is that you've now opened a can of worms, and you are shortly going to get all sorts of advice from as many different people about how you don't need a barrel trimmer in the first place. I use one because that is what works best for me and it's quicker - but stand by....

 

[Buckeye]

That's normal Ruth. The difference is that you've had the sense to realise it. Many people plough on with a blunt trimmer and wonder why the results are not good. You can touch it up with a diamond slip or if your trimmer has four blades (much better than six in my opinion) you can often put it to whatever it is you use to sharpen your tools.

What you don't realise is that you've now opened a can of worms, and you are shortly going to get all sorts of advice from as many different people about how you don't need a barrel trimmer in the first place. I use one because that is what works best for me and it's quicker - but stand by....

I gave up on the barrel trimmers and it was only about 10 days ago I revisited them and sharpened them, as long as I keep them sharp I think I will be using them from now on, they are much quicker.

Peter

 

[LittleMissCreative]

Thank you again for replying:thanxs:

 

[Themackay]

I dont think the quality of steel is very high on barrel trimmers as they seem to blunt quickly I think I will give mine a shapen

 

[wm460]

This might help you.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&...4boVGKyIXSKtLF0PGeM2TA&bvm=bv.120853415,d.dGY

 

[chas_41_uk]

All the advice above.

Is this normal or am I doing something wrong, i.e, applying to much pressure when drilling at high speed.

Plus "drilling at high speed" ? On the odd occasion that I do use a barrel trimmer I usually have it at the slowest speed the lathe will turn at

 

[qquake2k]

When I first started turning pens, I used a stationary disc sander, but didn't have any sort of guide on it. My brother-in-law, who worked for a defense contractor at the time, got me an old piloted endmill, and had various size pilots made for me. I also turned some brass sleeves for it when I had a metal lathe, and also have turned some acrylic sleeves. I still use the endmill, but also use a commercial barrel trimmer.

 

[Penpal]

It is important to get confidence in drilling blanks so they do not break out at the bottom then blank length can be much shorter eliminating the problem of weak shoulders on the trimmed blank as you turn.Sanding is the way to go for me.

Peter.