My attempts at making a closed end pen

[Lons]

Peter wanted to know why my pen "exploded". Nothing exciting and my own fault but gave me a hell of a fright and almost needed to go for a lie down!

Having never made a closed end pen I was desperate to enter the comp but very short of time. I had no mandrel but wanted to try that method so hastily turned a rough one out of some unknown hardwood scrap. Rather than do a trial run I foolishly chose a beautiful elm burr blank with splits and holes aplenty and started the closed end section with some tailstock support for safety.

Took me bloody ages, with lots of ca / dust hole filling until i was down to the final few cuts with the skew and feeling quite pleased with myself when the mandrel gave up the ghost and shed the blank which straight into my visor then the side of my bandsaw splitting into several bits. Took me 10 minutes to find the tube.
Lots of swearing before making another rough wooden mandrel and further attempts I wasn't happy with until I finished my entry without killing myself.

Duly entered I then discovered we had another 3 days grace and tried the brass pen shown on another thread which if successful would have been my replacement entry. I've since turned a steel mandrel as in the pic as the experience has whet my appetite for more.

 

[Woody]

Oh don't we have fun still you got a nice new mandrel in the end better luck next time mate :pray::pray:

 

[Penpal]

Lons the new mandrel is a fine result to acheive sounds like the wooden one split with the wooden one.

Peter.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Unfortunately these things happen. Just be glad you had your visor on
Plus the experience has led to a couple of very nice pens

 

[wm460]

You will be right now with you new mandrel.

 

[Buckeye]

I feel for you, it's always the same instead of trying things out on a scrap or lesser piece of wood we go straight for the top shelf, if it had worked you would have been over the moon. I am so glad you committed to a metal mandrel, that means we will be seeing more closed end pens from you. I have to make myself another mandrel as I gave so many away that still don't have one myself, I used Brass on the last few I made and I will be making myself a brass one. I am so glad it was fun and a challenge.

Peter