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[Bart]

I have been looking at Drill bits & mandrels & see that they have different sizes. I was planning to get the #2 morse taper & 7 mm mandrel. Is the 7MM mandrel used for the bigger sized pens blanks?

Also have any of you drilled your pen blanks on the lathe. I cut some scrap into 5/8 & 3/4 blanks today & chucked it in my Oneway Talon chuck & using the live center aligned it & then slid the Jacobs chuck with a brad-point of standard fractional size that is close to 7 MM & 10 MM & drilled the 2 blanks & it seemed to work fine. The chuck only left minor impressions on the corners of the wood that would be removed when turned.

 

[Jim Boyd]

I have only used the 7mm mandrel so far and have made slimlines, cigars, and atlas pens. The lathe will work for drilling holes but the drill press is probably faster.

 

[woodscavenger]

The 7mm will work for all but a few of the pens. Each style uses a set of bushings specific to the pen that fit the 7mm mandrel. Berea has a B mandrel that is thicker and is used for some of their pens. It has less flex in the shaft. As far as drilling, who cares, whatever works for you.

 

[Randy_]

If you don't have a good pen vice and drill press, using the lathe will be a more accurate way for you to drill blanks; but it will be quite a bit slower.

 

[Old Griz]

Occassionly I will find a real nice burl or other outrageous piece of wood that I want to use that might only be 5/8". If the kit calls for a 3/4" piece of wood and you use a drill press and get just a bit of wander you can lose a the wood... especially when drilling with say a 25/32" bit
In these cases I drill with my SuperNova chuck and pin jaws... never lost a piece if I do my part of keeping the lathe speed and drill feed speed down and clearing the hole often...
It does take a bit more time, but it is worth it...
I also use this method on antler a lot to keep dead center in the pith area

 

[Deere41h]

Bart....This is how I drill some of the larger holes on my lathe. I use this method when accuracy is of importance. Hope it helps.

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[ctEaglesc]

When drilling some of my laminated blanks it is necessary to stay as close to center as I can.This is also true when I want natural bark on deer antler.
In those cases I will turn between centers to 3/4" and using the 3/4 Beall collet chuckon the drive end and the jacobs chuck in the tails stock, drill on the lathe.
I can also drill a more acraute hole as in single body pens longer 4+ inches with this method.
It takes longer ,the collets and chuck is fairly expensive but the results are more repeatable.