Aluminum Pens
- Thread starter gspalding
- Start date
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johnnycnc
Member
George,
yes, solid aluminum to start. You can drill a tube hole and glue
tubes in or if you get just the right size hole you can just drill
and press the fittings in.
If you go to my website, http://penturnersproducts.com/
at the bottom of the home page, there is a link to
INSTRUCTIONS, and there is a "how to turn and finish aluminum pens"
link there to a document I wrote up.
I use to offer the blanks already cut to length and drilled just right,
and may again if there's any interest.
Hope this helps get you started!
yes, solid aluminum to start. You can drill a tube hole and glue
tubes in or if you get just the right size hole you can just drill
and press the fittings in.
If you go to my website, http://penturnersproducts.com/
at the bottom of the home page, there is a link to
INSTRUCTIONS, and there is a "how to turn and finish aluminum pens"
link there to a document I wrote up.
I use to offer the blanks already cut to length and drilled just right,
and may again if there's any interest.
Hope this helps get you started!
Stick Rounder
Member
its_virgil
Member
Not from Home Depot or Lowes. You need to use (from my experience) either 6061 or 7075 aluminum rods. They are available from industrial supply houses like Enco , MSC Direct or McMaster Carr. I get it from a local machine shop from the barrel of cutoffs that go to the scrap yard. It only cost me a couple of pens and I can go by and get pieces to make the pens. There is a yahoo group for aluminum pens: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aluminumpen
Do a good turn daily!
Don
Do a good turn daily!
Don
Ligget
Member
This Baron was made with blanks bought from Johnnycnc, I used a round nose scraper which I found was best for removing the most aluminium. 
jttheclockman
Member
Mark
Very nicely done. I want to try my hand at the metal pen. What tools are you using??? What speed do you turn metal at??? What type finish are you putting on them??? Thanks for the help.
PS--- Can you have a metal pen lasered???
Very nicely done. I want to try my hand at the metal pen. What tools are you using??? What speed do you turn metal at??? What type finish are you putting on them??? Thanks for the help.
PS--- Can you have a metal pen lasered???
JBeck
Member
Mark, that's a beautiful pen!! What did you finish it with?
John
John
Russianwolf
Member
johnnycnc
Member
George,
I can fix you up, I have yards of it.:biggrin:
Just pm me with what you want;need to know what kit also.
*raw cut blanks,you do all drilling and squaring.
*drilled for tubes,ends squared
*predrilled directly for fittings (no tubes), ends squared
or, any combination of the above!
I'd be glad to set you up.
I can fix you up, I have yards of it.:biggrin:
Just pm me with what you want;need to know what kit also.
*raw cut blanks,you do all drilling and squaring.
*drilled for tubes,ends squared
*predrilled directly for fittings (no tubes), ends squared
or, any combination of the above!
I'd be glad to set you up.
BLLEHMAN
Member
Mark, WOW thats nice.
John, there is interest from me regarding aluminum blanks
John, there is interest from me regarding aluminum blanks
rjwolfe3
Member
Me, too.
ldb2000
Member
I have the Honor of the featured pen this month and it's an Aluminum and brass kitless slimline .
Here's another 2 Aluminum pens , with some brass thrown in for good measure . I use solid Aluminum bar stock I get from www.speedymetals.com
Aluminum and brass are very easily turned on a wood lathe (I use my Jet 1014vsi) . It requires sharp tools , carbide tools work better because you don't have to sharpen as often but HSS tools will work fine . Keep the rest close to the work and a tight grip on your tools and it turns like a dream .
It's best to use type T6061 which is a very machinable type of aluminum .
Here's another 2 Aluminum pens , with some brass thrown in for good measure . I use solid Aluminum bar stock I get from www.speedymetals.com
Aluminum and brass are very easily turned on a wood lathe (I use my Jet 1014vsi) . It requires sharp tools , carbide tools work better because you don't have to sharpen as often but HSS tools will work fine . Keep the rest close to the work and a tight grip on your tools and it turns like a dream .
It's best to use type T6061 which is a very machinable type of aluminum .
Blind_Squirrel
Member
It depends on what type of pen you are looking to make. I made this one on a metal lathe. It started out as a piece of 1/2" bar stock. It has a slim line transmission in it.
Ligget
Member
Great pens can be made with what tools we normally use on wood, I like the round nose scraper, turning approx 1500rpm. I finished with wet sanding from 240 grit up to 500 the micromesh from 1500 through to 12000, aluminium polish after that.
Would be easier using buffing wheels, will try this with the next aluminium pen I do!
Would be easier using buffing wheels, will try this with the next aluminium pen I do!
jttheclockman
Member
Mark
I am glad you chimed in. I love your pen. What were some of the obstacles you found making that pen??? How did you overcome them???
When you all are making metal pens, do you use the brass tube or do you just drill the blank to the right size and go from there??? What is the advantage either way??? If you use the tubes what glue are you using???
When finishing are you looking for a mirror finish or are you after a satin finish??? How hard is it to get the swirl marks out??? I assume when sanding you are using something different than micromesh because of the blackness??? Does anyone powdercoat their metal pens???
I am glad you chimed in. I love your pen. What were some of the obstacles you found making that pen??? How did you overcome them???
When you all are making metal pens, do you use the brass tube or do you just drill the blank to the right size and go from there??? What is the advantage either way??? If you use the tubes what glue are you using???
When finishing are you looking for a mirror finish or are you after a satin finish??? How hard is it to get the swirl marks out??? I assume when sanding you are using something different than micromesh because of the blackness??? Does anyone powdercoat their metal pens???
titan2
Member
Johnny,
What would it cost me for: *predrilled directly for fittings (no tubes), ends squared in a slimline kit?
TIA
Barney
NewLondon88
Local Chapter Leader
I've been messing around with aluminum and brass on the lathe
and it's great. I bought some 6061 and something else, I forget
the number, but it was a lightning rod. Turned fine with wood turning
chisels. Heats up a LOT. Sands well and will polish up to a mirror
finish, but I cut it back because it doesn't quite match the chrome
kit I used it on and when they're too close but don't match it looks
awkward. But with a satin finish and chrome, it looked deliberate.
I've been wondering about some sort of finish, though. Maybe a
lacquer for metal, just haven't gotten around to it. The aluminum
is soft and marks up easily.
and it's great. I bought some 6061 and something else, I forget
the number, but it was a lightning rod. Turned fine with wood turning
chisels. Heats up a LOT. Sands well and will polish up to a mirror
finish, but I cut it back because it doesn't quite match the chrome
kit I used it on and when they're too close but don't match it looks
awkward. But with a satin finish and chrome, it looked deliberate.
I've been wondering about some sort of finish, though. Maybe a
lacquer for metal, just haven't gotten around to it. The aluminum
is soft and marks up easily.
Attachments
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jttheclockman
Member
Charlie
I like the brass cigar. Where did you get the brass??? Do you use tubes or do you drill exactly for the kit??? Is there a number also for the brass that I should look for??? Does one turn harder than the other??? Thanks for the reply. Boy this could be a whole other avenue of pen turning to try. Man this stuff is fun.
I like the brass cigar. Where did you get the brass??? Do you use tubes or do you drill exactly for the kit??? Is there a number also for the brass that I should look for??? Does one turn harder than the other??? Thanks for the reply. Boy this could be a whole other avenue of pen turning to try. Man this stuff is fun.
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NewLondon88
Local Chapter Leader
FWIW .. I wouldn't do the brass cigar again.. it weighs a quarter of a pound.
I think it was 501 brass? Not sure, I know nothing about this stuff. But
it was a 3 ft rod, 3/8 inch. I turned that one on a Taig. I drilled it out on
the Jet mini (wood lathe) with a jacobs chuck holding the drill bit and the
brass rod chucked in a Barracuda with pin jaws. Drilled it out to just under
the kit size, then fine tuned it when I fit the parts.
Definitely use cutting fluid.
I thought I'd make a great looking copper pen, but the copper didn't like
being turned, I guess. I got it drilled out, but I'm still not sure how. It doesn't
turn well, it binds. It'll stop your lathe on a dime.
.. and yes .. it's all fun!
I think it was 501 brass? Not sure, I know nothing about this stuff. But
it was a 3 ft rod, 3/8 inch. I turned that one on a Taig. I drilled it out on
the Jet mini (wood lathe) with a jacobs chuck holding the drill bit and the
brass rod chucked in a Barracuda with pin jaws. Drilled it out to just under
the kit size, then fine tuned it when I fit the parts.
Definitely use cutting fluid.
I thought I'd make a great looking copper pen, but the copper didn't like
being turned, I guess. I got it drilled out, but I'm still not sure how. It doesn't
turn well, it binds. It'll stop your lathe on a dime.
.. and yes .. it's all fun!
johnnycnc
Member
Pm sent, Thanks!