Lots of Firsts

[Garno]

Had a lot of firsts today culminating in my first blank break.

I was making a shock absorber pen using callipers as I did not have any bushes for it.
All was going well until I put the very last thing together, the bit that the keyring goes on.
It fitted great and I was really pleased how it had all turned out, it actually looked ok.
Then I decided to look on the internet to see if the end had to be flush or something resembling a small thread needed to be shown and it looked as though it should be flush so I pressed it in as hard as I could, that in turn split the tube as well as the blank. Looking further into this internet thing it does appear some do not actually go flush.
Anyway it's broke.
Not to be angry and out done I will try again tomorrow with my last pack with a lot of learnt lessons securely tucked into my belt

 

[flexi]

Every day is a school day,( well I do work in one) anyway all is not lost..... You can re use the fittings if you buy a spare tube.
Dave at Penkitz and bits normally carries them, but it might be worth waiting until you need some other bits first

 

[21William]

It goes like that sometimes.

 

[Garno]

Every day is a school day,( well I do work in one) anyway all is not lost..... You can re use the fittings if you buy a spare tube.
Dave at Penkitz and bits normally carries them, but it might be worth waiting until you need some other bits first

I did not know that you can buy tubes without the full kit.

Even though it ended in disaster I did enjoy working with the callipers to get the 2 different sizes, 0.500" and 0.564" it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. (I forgot to draw guide lines/circles on the blank so had no way, other than measuring, of knowing how far I had left)

 

[Garno]

 

[alpha1]

Ouch. Its all a learning curve.

 

[Dalboy]

The one I made.

 

[Bill Mooney]

A couple of tips Gary.
Always rub a file inside the tube ends after turning & finishing your blank to take any burrs off the tube before pushing in the fittings as this is a cause of the blanks splitting.
Round the points off on your callipers to stop you getting a catch when you use them.

 

[Garno]

The one I made.

View attachment 44039
View attachment 44040

That seems to be pressed all the way in, May I ask what your measurements are at each end please as I just can't see mine going in that far, I may be using the wrong measurement

 

[wm460]

Thats when you say "Oh Shiver" or something like that.

 

[Dalboy]

That seems to be pressed all the way in, May I ask what your measurements are at each end please as I just can't see mine going in that far, I may be using the wrong measurement

I will have to see if I still have it to measure but it will not be today as I will be getting ready for the new workshop to arrive about midday and tomorrow will spend most of the day getting it up and water tight. It is starting to feel like a very early Christmas present

 

[Morse]

To quote Flexi, besides Dan, Phil at Beaufort does a range of tubes too.

Dave

 

[Geoff Kent]

We all make mistakes,all part of the learning curve.

 

[Penpal]

What I found using this kit was end for ending was painfull so I leave them in the one position never parked.

Peter.

 

[Garno]

What I found using this kit was end for ending was painfull so I leave them in the one position never parked.

Peter.

Personally I think it is a very unforgiving kit to turn, more so without the correct bushes.

I have found somewhere that sells the bushes as well as a 27/64" drill bit. Ordering mid next week so happy days ahead

Going to knock out a bowl or 2 then back to the pens