Had a go and I'm firmly hooked

[yorkshireman]

Bob, you're at the top of a slippery slope now mate with no going back. The next phase is to lay in bed at night reading the axminster catalogue.

keith

 

[Lons]

Bob, you're at the top of a slippery slope now mate with no going back. The next phase is to lay in bed at night reading the axminster catalogue.

keith

Have we met? - How do you know me?

I've been doing that for years, just nothing to do with turning.
That very catalogue is by my chair at the minute and I'll be picking it up again later.

Bob

 

[Doug]

That very catalogue is by my chair at the minute and I'll be picking it up again later.

Yep very absorbent & softer than Izal

 

[rowdyyates115]

A Very Nice Pen, especially for your first Well done Lons..

 

[Jimbo]

That pen drill jig has given me an idea with very slight modification it could be perfect for cutting tubes to length.

 

[bluntchisel]

Well done, Bob. There's no turning back now!!!

Bob.

 

[Lons]

Update

Well here's my second attempt and another jig.

I'm a little happier with the fit of the pen which I tried to get as straight and slim as I could but not at all happy with the finish which again is just sanded to 400g and ancient friction polish and paste wax.

The photo is poor (must get that sorted) and doesn't show that the pen has a reasonable shine though I rushed it so time to do some research and practice on scrap to see what I can do.

The jig is cribbed of the web somewhere and I already had an old toggle C clamp with 40mm of travel. The plastic pressure pads are the feet off an old bath just turned down a little. Adjustable bolt at the end is one of the bath threaded bars and just a simple rough turned knob. I originally tapped the aluminium angle but it seemed a faff so the bar is now a slide fit with nut / wing nuts to tighten. I needed to recess the angle a little to line up the pads.
I haven't tried it out yet as I'd already assembled the pen but it should work.:smile-new:

Bob

 

[paulm]

That is a might fine pen there Bob, its been turned very nicely indeed and the jig is excellent. I use the vice myself but and see me making something like this in the near future.

 

[ataylor]

Good to see you making pens Lons and thanks for adding your jig i may borrow the design as it does look simple.

 

[Lons]

may borrow the design as it does look simple.

Be my guest. I cribbed it off a pic I saw somewhere so it's possibly patented:wink: I did alter and adapt a little so I guess I'm safe from prison!
I looked at buying a toggle clamp which you can get for around a tenner before I remebered I had one somewhere. I'd also thought of cutting up an old G clamp or quick action as an alternative and I've been keeping all those bath feet for years and never found a use for them

Bob

 

[Jim]

The photo is poor (must get that sorted) and doesn't show that the pen has a reasonable shine though I rushed it so time to do some research and practice on scrap to see what I can do.

Well done Lons, good to see that you are still at this pen making lark .. You do know that once you are at a certain level all your concentration will turn to your camera...

Nice little jig you made there also ..