show your method

[Tiny James]

So yesterday I when to Axminister for a doggy pen and some blanks. and a bought a extra kit pen. On trying to find the bushes for the pens I read and realized that most bushings could be used on different pens and also some pens require 16 mm blanks and some require 20 mm blanks.

I would like to know how you all keep track of pens that fit a bushing kit or what bushing fits that pen also drill size.

James

 

[flexi]

Wow.... Now here's a mine field!
Everybody has a different approach,
Personally for me.... I stick to a number of kits(it helps sales to offer a limited number instead of a cacophony of one offs as it will always be the wrong wood or not quite the right colour)
With those kits I have a systainer box with bushes in and each section labelled with the kit names.
As I say this works for me.... I also double check with calipers(bushes do get worn).
There is also a handy chart on the International association of penturners forum group which lists all kits(Inc multiple names) all tube sizes and bushes size.... You can then check what fits the bushes you have already, it will also give an indication of blank size too. I have some pen kits that require 28mm blanks....
I hope this helps

 

[Tiny James]

Thank you Flexi for your method I was thinking of using a medium size envelope to store my bushes and write on the envelope the pen it references too with blank size and drill size


Ps
Your link for your turning matters doesn't work I tried yesterday and just before I wrote this reply

James

 

[Pierre]

Ho James what a question, you will get 50 different answers. Personally I sell my pens so I buy between 5 and 50 of the same pen kits and if they are new I buy the bushings that go with them, so I have a drawer of about 80 different bushing sets, all labelled. Sometimes there are duplicates but more often there are subtle differences. For example when I first started (before Beaufort inks etc) there were the 'Gentleman' and the 'Junior gentleman' I started with one supplier and then found the same (cheaper) with another, what I didn't realise at the time was that one was Taiwanese and the other Chinese (hence the price difference) but equally the bushing sets were also different, not by much , but enough. So I decided that from now on I will buy the bushing set that the supplier recommends so that if there is a fault then I can shout loudly. However, among those sets I have been able to use some to recreate or repair other people pens that they want remade, so they do have a use.

So at the end of the day make sure you have a big drawer to put them all in or just use the 'between points' method and a good set of calipers .

 

[Neil Lawton]

Metric is too new for most turners and quite rightly so as they are mostly made from equipment from the Imperial era. The tube will always fit an Imperial size drill bit better than the Metric one so just try it.

 

[Penpal]

I use a block of wood with slightly undersize 1/4 inch dowel set in to store my bushes. I turn the bushes under size where they meet the blank so I have a better chance of not gluing the bushes to the blank during the CA finish stage.

I measure the drill size from a drill guage plate.I keep both metric and imperial drills ,bought in sets they are so cheap compared with individual drills. Years ago I bought heaps of 7mm drill pointed drills ten at a time. I got hundreds of 7mm holes for Slimlines amortise the cost is so small per pen.Using calipers though is my way even with drills for finer need. Have fun start as you intend to finish.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

I started out with this, then when I started to turn bigger pens, I went to these piddle specimen pots.






Didn't realise how old that photo was, haven't seen the bench top for years.

 

[Phil Dart]

You could try these James

20 x 80 telescopic component boxes (pack of 10)

They're the same telescopic boxes that we (Beaufort ink) supply our own bushes in, but you can buy them in packs of 10 and just write on the boxes or label them with whatever bushes you want to store in them (1 set per box I suggest).

Pierre's point is a good one though. There are several resellers out there who all sell the same kits from China, but you'll work out who they are as your experience increases. A set of bushes from any of those people will serve the same kit from any of the others, but generally speaking, amongst the sellers of the better kits, buy the bushes from where you buy the kit. That way you will know they are meant for each other and you'll have some recourse with the supplier if they're not right. If you came to me and complained that your Sirocco hadn't worked out too well using the Sierra bushes you have, I'd sympathise of course, but ultimately I'd say bad luck, next time use Sirocco bushes. However if you told me that your Sirocco bushes had a problem, (unlikely, and purely hyperthetical ) I'd probably replace the bushes for you.

 

[Dalboy]

I have a number of bushes that I keep in small boxes with the name on them. When I turn pens now I no longer use them as I use cone centres

 

[Pierre]

I have a number of bushes that I keep in small boxes with the name on them. When I turn pens now I no longer use them as I use cone centres

Between centres is great when you only do 1 or 2 pens per year but when you are making 20-30 per month then bushings are essential for speed of production, I used to use 5-6 sets of 7mm bushings per year; coronavirus has slowed down demand immensely. But soon I shall be teaching disadvantaged kids how to make pens as a volunteer so back to bushings again, they cant yet see the relationship between calipers and ends of pens

 

[Paul hd]

As Phil has pointed out the telescopic boxes are great. I started to use the longer ones to keep bushes and drill bits together.

The round pots are soft cheese holders. :-))

 

[pittswood]

Hi James,
I bought loads of interlocking draws from Halfords. Each draw holds the pen kits AND the bushes associated with that kit. I keep the kit and bushes apart, no damage, by using the telescopic tubes from Beaufort ink, to keep my bushes in. Each draw is about 18 long by 70 wide and 60 deep. I also keep a lot of my special wood in some other draws along side.
The pics speak for themselves.
Kelvin

 

[pittswood]

SORRY THE DRAW SIZES SHOULD READ AS

Each draw is about 180mm long by 70mm wide and 60mm deep.

Kelvin