First....

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Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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Today I drilled my first blank on the lathe using my Barracuda and a Jacobs chuck....a little slow but straight as an arrow. I believe I'll do that again.
 
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After a while, you'll find it's almost as fast and lots more accurate than using the drill press... you actually have more control of the speed on the lathe. I converted over a year ago and haven't looked back since.
 

islandturner

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After a while, you'll find it's almost as fast and lots more accurate than using the drill press... you actually have more control of the speed on the lathe. I converted over a year ago and haven't looked back since.

Ditto...! I use a Supernova II chuck with their 25 cm pin jaws. I can turn and drill square blanks or round. I find the control this way during drilling is considerably better. Maybe not quite as fast as with the drill press, when doing batches...?
 

DurocShark

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Anaheim, CA
I love drilling on the lathe.

If you round your blanks first, you can use the curved jaws on your chuck and get even more accuracy.

(I don't unless I'm cutting it REALLY close size-wise. But I do lots of casting in pipe, so they're already round... heh)
 
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Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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Nov 23, 2009
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Problem....

Well today I hit my first problem.....my 3/8th chuck just won't take a 27/64th bit. So I had to order an additional chuck, since I'm going to be turning a lot of Sierra style pens...Ain't that just like life though, own nearly every tool in the catalog and on your first project you need the one you don't own.
 

Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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I'll be doing that

I love drilling on the lathe.

If you round your blanks first, you can use the curved jaws on your chuck and get even more accuracy.

(I don't unless I'm cutting it REALLY close size-wise. But I do lots of casting in pipe, so they're already round... heh)
I have a few round blanks that someone on here sold me....of course I forget who...but I will be trying to drill them on the lathe also. PSI sold me a half-inch chuck so I will be able to use my lathe for the bigger kits. I broke my blank vice so my drill press is probably out of the picture.
 

Timbo

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Jan 4, 2008
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Kill Devil Hills, NC USA.
After a while, you'll find it's almost as fast and lots more accurate than using the drill press... you actually have more control of the speed on the lathe. I converted over a year ago and haven't looked back since.

What he said. The only time I use the drill press is when I intentionally want to drill off-center to get the desired color mix in a blank that contains some sapwood.
 

PenMan1

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Jul 8, 2009
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Eatonton, Georgia
Best reason I can think of to have a "drilling" lathe and a turning lathe.

When you think about it, you can get a second lathe that will do a remarkable job for less than the price of a decent drill press!

I know, I know...the change over is quick....but this makes a BETTER, More ACCURATE product, QUICKER! Think my wife will buy this arguement?
 

bitshird

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Aug 27, 2007
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Adamsville, TN, USA.
I don't even own a drill press, and the thought of drilling pen blanks on my milling machine kind of sounds silly, so I drill with my Barracuda with pin jaws, Now I have to get a set for the new Super Nova 2. I wonder when the money stops going out, I sell some tools and I buy some tools, it's a vicious cycle.
 

PenMan1

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I don't even own a drill press, and the thought of drilling pen blanks on my milling machine kind of sounds silly, so I drill with my Barracuda with pin jaws, Now I have to get a set for the new Super Nova 2. I wonder when the money stops going out, I sell some tools and I buy some tools, it's a vicious cycle.

"Hello...My name is Ken... and I'm a tool addict!"....."It started with a $5 broken screw extractor kit.....Soon it turned into a $100 a day habit...I started making tools and selling them to my friends to support my tool habit"

Hello Ken....I'm Andy...Welcome:biggrin:
 

Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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Nov 23, 2009
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Milford, Delaware 19963
Depends

Best reason I can think of to have a "drilling" lathe and a turning lathe.

When you think about it, you can get a second lathe that will do a remarkable job for less than the price of a decent drill press!

I know, I know...the change over is quick....but this makes a BETTER, More ACCURATE product, QUICKER! Think my wife will buy this arguement?


That depends on what the arguement is accompanied by. A nice bouquet of her favorite flowers usually works for me.
 

Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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Joined
Nov 23, 2009
Messages
12,823
Location
Milford, Delaware 19963
Never

I don't even own a drill press, and the thought of drilling pen blanks on my milling machine kind of sounds silly, so I drill with my Barracuda with pin jaws, Now I have to get a set for the new Super Nova 2. I wonder when the money stops going out, I sell some tools and I buy some tools, it's a vicious cycle.

If you are lucky you'll buy your last tool with your last cent on the last day of your life....of course if you buy on credit the money can keep going for some time after you've gone to your final rest.
 
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