Here is my second finished pen that I've completed without blowing up the blank. Please give any advise that you feel may help me out. Platinum slimline with Marblewood. No finish just sanding.
Nice job on shape, for your second pen I think you are doing fine. You do need to watch the fit in the center you are just a bit under turned as stated earlier. You really have to go by those bushings if you are not very close to them you will be under turned. All in all you did very well here for your second pen... Congrats.
Thank you everyone for the advice. I think i blew up 7 or 8 blanks on the lathe. I know I had a canarywood blank basically crumble on me squaring up the ends with the pen mill. I also had a blow out on the drill press trying to drill a blank of camelthorn.
A dull pen mill is an excellent way to blow up a blank , particularly if the grain is ugly (i.e . burl) or non-uniform in hardness . Best to go the sanding route .
Well I think you have an awesome adventure ahead of you if you can turn that well for your second pen. You will soon be an addict like the rest of us. Keep up the good work, and really post pics, as I know I learned a LOT from the comments of the experienced turners here. And still learning.