You are right the chuck end is not fixed in anyway just held in place by the tailstock pressure.
This is a piece of walnut have not really decided what to make from it maybe a nice largish hollow form, will have to resort to the other lathe after I make a steady which I have some roller blade wheels already.
The pen kit is one that I have had in the kit draw for a while now did not want to give too much away.
My pen for the comp is glued up and I did a Vic and chipped some off the end but not enough to effect it I hope, will not know until the glue sets overnight and I start to turn it tomorrow
