New to turning pens but I think

[Tiny James]

Yes I'm new to turning pens however I do like the idea of kitless pen phil's the one to blame with that amazing ironwood fountain pen (dam it's a fantastic looking pen) but I'm wondering on the right route to take, but also being tight on money I am a tight git BUT I do like to buy the right tools for the job.

So my Axminister lathe will accept a 2mt mandrel and a threaded chuck so with this in mind would I be best buying a long jaw chuck or a collet chuck also while I'm on the subject what would be your recommendation for a good pen turning kitless book.

I think I'm going to save up for a good tap and die set from Beaufort ink.

James

 

[flexi]

A collet chuck has more options on usage in my opinion and that would be my preference...
In stead of jumping straight in kit less.... Sorry Phil try a couple of stopped end pens...
This is where instead of using push in tube fittings(kit parts) you use timber /acrylic/whatever for the entire length. It also means you can't use a through mandrel, but gives more flexibility to shapes you create

 

[geordie0928]

Hi, it looks like we are both in the same boat mate, we both like the same type of pens.

 

[wm460]

If you make closed end pens make sure the blank is long enough or you will end up with open end pens, DAMHIKT

 

[Tiny James]

Mark that is funny but true LOL

 

[Phil Dart]

Really you need both types of chuck. That said though, although a collet chuck will serve you well over time as far as accuracy and convenience is concerned, if your budget only stretches to one type for the moment, a scroll chuck is the way to go. You can't hold a square blank in a collet chuck, but you can hold a round blank in a scroll chuck. Where a collet chuck scores is in its ability to grip in a perfect circle at the given diameter of the collet, of which many diameters are available. It's therefore highly accurate and extremely kind to the workpiece. The jaws of a scroll chuck will form a perfect circle, but only at one diameter, therefore most work ends up being held by the points or the waists of the jaws, which is not very accurate nor very kind to the workpiece.

 

[Tiny James]

So Mark do you just drill out to depth of tube and glue and then turn with one bushing and a live center at one end. I would like to know how you sent up for a closed end pen ??

James

 

[Bammer]

Try You Tube, there are loads of video's, great resource

 

[Penpal]

My feeling re kitless is different,clever and impressive,an acheivement. Moving slowly in to these pays off. Enjoy your progress.

Peter.

 

[flexi]

Hi James,...... Sort of...
To turn the stopped end pens I do, I use a pin chuck. All this is is a piece of bar the same diameter as the pen tube, a good snug fit. This has a 1mm flat filled on the edge, I then use a 1mm panel pin on the flat. When the bar is in my collet chuck(a drill chuck will work) the blank will slide on and off, when you twist it the 1mm panel pin moves off center and locks the blank in place. So again yes a live center in the tail stock will support the blank and once shaped and turned just part off the bit with a dimple in
You can make pin chucks of all sizes with a set of parallel pin punches and still use them for disassembly...... Or buy specific ones, I did try a grabber adjustable mandral type, but found this method quicker and a lot easier
It's also the method I use for my big bullet pens

 

[Tiny James]

very impressive Mark I think I will wait until Sant's been with a collet chuck But I've just noted that my pen mandrel is a collet type and I all so have a collet shaft for my router mmmmmmm got me thinking

James

 

[Tiny James]

Here is my collet for the router Gasea 1/2 Inch Shank ER20 Router Collet Extension Rod Collect Chucks Adapter with 6.35mm & 13mm Spring Collet Set for CNC Milling Lathe Tool: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools not sure if the chuck will hold it square or even the pen jaws I will have to get out the dial indicator.

This is very similar to my pen mandrel Axminster Woodturning Junior Chuck | Axminster Tools

James