NEED HELP Baron group buy pen kits

[jtate]

So I bought my first Baron kits in the group buy but I've never turned a Baron before so I don't have the instructions sheet. I don't know what size bushings to use or whether it's a standard mandrel type kit.

And, if I do a closed end pen, how deep do I drill the hole for the body?

Can someone help?
Thanks!

 

[LostintheWoods]

The instruction sheet, and the bushings as well, are available from Arizona Silhouette. He also has a closed-end mandrel available, or you can use a home-made pin chuck. The depths you want are 2 1/8" for the tube, and 2 7/8" clearance for rollerball refill/fountain pen. I suggest 8mm clearance hole for the fountain pen, otherwise your convertor may empty itself prematurely.

 

[LanceD]

Julia here's a link to a diagram for drilling a blank for a closed end Baron. Look on AS's site under pen kits for the Baron and you'll see a list of the bushings and drill bits you'll need to make them.

http://www.penturners.org/oldalbums/Fangar/pinchuck1.jpg

 

[karlkuehn]

I would definitely recommend the closed end mandrel from Bill. When I got mine, he had a special going where if you bought two (or something like that - I bought the Churchill one, too), you get Ed D's 'How to make a closed end pen' DVD, which was really great to watch, not only to learn the closed end stuff, but also just to see somebody else work on a lathe. I learned a lot just watching Ed, although he does some crazy stuff in there that I don't have the cajones to try myself (i.e., "Just use your hand to steady the piece as it turns...").

He also sends along a great little printed addendum to the video with all the measurements you need for drill depths for all the mandrels that AS carries. The machining is great on these mandrels, and they make closed ends much easier.

I think all of the pen kits have online instruction sheets, I just google stuff like 'Baron pen kit instruction sheet' and usually come up with something useful right away. It's best to get the sheets from where you bought a particular kit, though.

 

[jtate]

Okay
Found it.

http://www.arizonasilhouette.com/Pen_Kit_Instructions.htm

 

[Texatdurango]

Julia,

Don't be too quick to order the DVD, check your email first!