mallard
Full Member
Do any of you sand the square edges off your pen blanks before you turn them on the lathe ?
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No, not normally......but I did it once on a special blank, I took the corners of on the bandsaw so it was octagonal, can't say it did much to improve the turning.....in fact it took more time to do that than be patient and less aggressive on the lathe.
I know some swear by it, but sharp tools and a slow approach can be quicker
I know some swear by it, but sharp tools and a slow approach can be quicker
wm460
Grand Master
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
- Posts
- 23,113
- First Name
- Mark
Sharp Skew is all I use.
I usually don't do this but, like Mark, have done so especially on chippy blanks such as the resin impregnated twig blanks that Axminster had. They had a tendency to fall apart so removing the edge "Arris" gave a fighting chance.....
Cheers
Frederick
Cheers
Frederick
Curly
Graduate Member
Nope.
Pete
Pete
Penpal
Grand Master
Especially on printed circuit board blanks,its a yes for me whenever.Made a special router jig about a yr ago have not used it yet.
Peter.
Peter.
No I don’t bother. I’ve tried it but it didn’t prove anything.
Neil
Fellow
No! .
Penpal
Grand Master
Believe me relieving the square down to round in penmaking can be fraught. Depending on how many you make,you get a feeling after a while ir you need to.
Peter.
Peter.
rwschlenz
Apprentice Member
I generally do it for acrylics and hard woods. Just 15 seconds on my belt sander to knock off the corners. Makes it easier to turn to round, with less wear and tear on tools and lathe bearings.
Curly
Graduate Member
I can understand the reasoning for taking the corners off for brittle materials but saving "wear and tear on tools and lathe bearings" escapes me. You would be transferring it to the sander, spending more money on belts in the long run and any imbedded abrasive will wear the tools faster than if they hadn't been sanded. So if anything you add cost to the process. Each to their own though. :wink:
Pete
Pete