STRAIGHT CUTTING ANTLER AND TUBES

[DRAT]

Help!

I am having a devil of a time cutting AND sanding the ends of the antler straight after the tube is in and the glue is set.

Unlike a square blank which I can lay flat on my bandsaw and then use my guide to guarantee a straight cut. The antler doesn't lay square on the bandsaw table to the blade, so I never get a cut which squarely meets the end of the tube.

I always either take off some of the tube or I leave too much of the antler sticking out past the tube. Then I end up sanding, and sometimes (usually) I end up sanding away too much of everything, plus it is never straight - another tube and another antler piece goes into the trash.

It's probably a simple fix, I just don't know what the heck it is?????

Help me!

DRAT

 

[keithlong]

I turn a lot of antler and I use the trimmer head. This is the simplest way that I know of.

 

[MarkD]

I use a pen mill to trim antler flush and square to the tube.

 

[DRAT]

What are those things?

Ok guys you got me, what's a trimmer head, and what's a pen mill?

DRAT

 

[its_virgil]

How do you square the ends of a wooden blank? Do you not use a pen mill? Or a jig and disk or belt sander? If you are not using a pen mill then that should be your next tool purchase.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Help!

I am having a devil of a time cutting AND sanding the ends of the antler straight after the tube is in and the glue is set.

Unlike a square blank which I can lay flat on my bandsaw and then use my guide to guarantee a straight cut. The antler doesn't lay square on the bandsaw table to the blade, so I never get a cut which squarely meets the end of the tube.

I always either take off some of the tube or I leave too much of the antler sticking out past the tube. Then I end up sanding, and sometimes (usually) I end up sanding away too much of everything, plus it is never straight - another tube and another antler piece goes into the trash.

It's probably a simple fix, I just don't know what the heck it is?????

Help me!

DRAT

 

[DRAT]

I use a band saw and/or a disc sander. But I can't seem to get the tubed blank straight on either noe of these because the antler piece is not straight.

 

[renowb]

Clamp it in vise and use trimmer head. The pilot will go through the tube and will cut the antler down even.

 

[its_virgil]

They are the same tool and it is sometimes called a barrel trimmer. There is a pilot shaft that goes into the tube and a cutter head that mills the end of the blank flat and perpendicular to the axis of the tube...it "squares" the end of the blank. Here is a picture.
7mm Pen Mill | Pen Turning Supplies

Some of us use a disk sander and a lig for holding the blank. Some of us make out own jig and others purchase one from suppliers of pen turning supplies. Here is a link to making one yourself...provided you have a disk or belt sander.
http://content.penturners.org/library/tools_and_jigs/blanksquaring.pdf

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Ok guys you got me, what's a trimmer head, and what's a pen mill?

DRAT

 

[DRAT]

Don and all,

Thank you. Now I get it!

DRAT

 

[RosezPenZ]

Here is another hint, have you still got those "too short" antlers? I hate to see antler wasted, if you are making 7ml twist pens, aka, slime line, then they can very a little in length. Just don't push in the twist mechanism as far. Stop and check it often.

 

[cwolfs69]

pen mill is the best way and the only thing i use unless something very weird involved. i have about 8 heads and a guide for each size i use, about 12. but once your collection is up very seldom need to buy another. have only bought 2 in last 4 months. for elgrande kit, 37/64 etc.

 

[randyrls]

Drat; One addendum; The sanding jig will not work on a closed end "antler tine". The pen mill will work on either closed or open ended pen blanks.