Here's a little game for you. . .

[Walter]

See how many things you can see in this Axminster video that are either just plain wrong or you would do differently.

Let me start you off, not the first mistake on the video but at 1 minute 30, what kind of way is that to glue a tube? A single line of CA down one side.

 

[scouseroy]

Im a bit green but Shouldn't use a rag on a lathe? and wasn't sure about using such a low grit sandpaper?

 

[rayf6604]

I'd say the pen would fail with that method of gluing. I use a single line of glue on the tube but twist and twist as I slide the tube in

 

[bassethound]

Well I would say gluing like that's not good enough and Rag is a no no on a lathe. as is as far as I am concerned a ring on the finger is as bad! Only other thing I wondered is why did he use both tubes to make cut lines when he had one already in his hand?

 

[Dalboy]

For me

Bad glueing practice as previously stated.
Clear away the swarf more often
I would work through the grits and not have such a big jump
If when they say rag it is then wrong in using it but at least he did not wrap it around his fingers.

What I would do different is drill on the lathe not the drill press

That is just a quick look through

 

[Neil]

That is a true disgrace. I have just returned from the Royal Welsh Show gone midnight last night and am catching up with posts. I need to look at that again as my memory failed after about three minutes due to the number of horrors. I know who it is in that video, as I suspect Walter does and he is a fantastic turner, but think that he ought to stick with what he does best.

Almost as good as the Colt Video Walter!!!

Post my response soon!

 

[paulm]

Got it... he's turning a plastic pen... Do I get a prize?

 

[Neil]

Quite a few horrors, a few things that I would do differently but as they are a matter of opinion I'l keep those to myself and one or two stupid things.

1.09, drops the acrylic blank into the bottom of the vice. Silly boy. No sacrificial block on the bottom so if you want to drill the whole way through the blank you'll bugger up your drill on the aluminium. Why rebate the top of the blank where you cant see it? Hold the blank so the surface to be drilled is flush with the top of the jaws (i dont bother with the sacrificial blank and the tip of the drill just goes into the space at the bottom of the blanks.
There is little point in having a centrally closing vice to hold the pen blank if you just plonk it under the drill every time and rely on eye to locate the middle of the blank under the drill, waste of £45!!!
1.32 Glue. Sorry but that is worse than laughable, its pathetic. The tube that is already in the blank when it is presented for gluing doesnt even get the glue on one side, so the first half centimetre has no glue on it at all. Joke!!
3.00 Lathe speed? 1500, Really? I wouldnt, I use a higher speed but every man to his own.
4.20 Sanding. Do as you wish to get it flat. However, what is the point in using a very fine abrasive as a lubricator for 2000 grit sandpaper? Chestnut burninshing cream will remove scratches less than 1 micron, its pointless using it with 2000 wet and dry, you might as well use water or bugger all. If you generate heat with 2000 wet and dry you have a problem in that you are holding it there far to long anyway.

The pen press. They have used the central closing vice, be it rather imprpoerly so why not use a proper pen press. I know you dont have to use a pen press and a vice will do, but its not really clever to use a soft wood lined vice jaw to close a 7mm nib as more than likely the nib will act a bit like a plug cutter and youll jam up the orifice with wood fibres.

All in all its very amateurish, misrepresentative of the art of pen turning and a bit of a disservice all round.

I could go on but am falling asleep!

Zzzz ZZZzzz

 

[paulm]

Does that mean you've won the price Neil? Damn

 

[Paul]

Cheers very helpful opinions as I learn.

 

[Walter]

I think Neil has covered most of things that are just plain wrong. Another thing I think is bad practice is pressing directly on the end of the threads when assembling. Better to use a suitable sized bushing so you are pressing on the shoulders.

I don't know if it is who we think it is Neil, but I agree he should either research good practice or stick to what he knows. I hope he is not teaching people to make pens like this.