PSI service and carbide pen mill...

[AMD]

Hello !
I am almost ready to make my first pen but I miss one tool; the pen mill.

Some people recommended to me the PSI carbide mill (It is a good choice ? Is
that worth the money?).

I tried to contact PSI by e-mail 4 times in two weeks to ask
a question concerning the shipping (I am in Canada) but I never received a answers !
Are they closed or they do not answer their e-mail ??

Can I find a carbide pen mill elsewhere? I think that I will forget PSI...

Alain

 

[mrcook4570]

I have no experience with a carbide pen mill. However, I do know that the regular steel pen mills work just fine.

 

[ctEaglesc]

Stick with the conventional mill and anything you want from PSI get from Woodturningz(Believe it or not it is less expensive and their service is tops!

 

[wood-of-1kind]

Alain,

Jacques Coulombe in Quebec also carries all the PSI line and may be convenient for you to inquire. He is a little more expensive than WoodturningZ though.

-Peter-[]

 

[badwin]

Alain
I have 2 pen mills from lee valley and they work awesome.
Brian
http://www3.telus.net/public/goodwinp

 

[OSCAR15]

I have carbide pen mill from PSI. Works great on most woods. Tears acrylics to spreds...
I use carbide on hardwoods, where it excels..I use regular on softer woods and plastics...
OSCAR

 

[ctEaglesc]

Stick with the regular mill.In a pinch you can touch it up until you get it professionally sharpened(PaulinOKC)
You cannot do that with Carbide.

 

[broitblat]

The carbide mill stays sharper longer, but I find it bites into the wood much more and requires you to be more gentle/careful.

 

[ctEaglesc]

Originally posted by broitblat
<br />The carbide mill stays sharper longer, but I find it bites into the wood much more and requires you to be more gentle/careful.

There are those who would argue that carbide "holds an edge longrer" but cannot be sharpened as fine as carbon steel.This may be why some have problems with different materials.
I use the PSI steel mill for all materials,soft and hard woods, acrylics, bone, plexiglass blanks with aluminum brass or copper in them.I see no need for a carbide mill.
I turn non ferrous metals with my turning tools, why the need for a carbide mill that is difficult for me to maintain?
Just my take, your mileage may vary.

 

[gerryr]

Also, be aware that if you drop the carbide pen mill, the carbide can break.[:0] If, and when, someone comes out with a carbide pen mill with replaceable cutters, I might buy one.