DaveM
Member
I have a customer (Family friend) who has bought a couple of Carbaras from me. I was showing her the piece of acrylic blank leftover, and she wondered if I can make a thimble out of it. If I can, I have an order for fifteen pen/thimble matched sets for Christmas! (Even if I goof a few up, I still need to turn another twenty five Carbaras or so for the holiday, so I can afford to give it a few extra tries)
I couldn't find any thimble threads in the search, so I am asking here. How would I go about doing this? I figure I will drill out the inside hole, and make a jamb chuck to hold it while I turn the outside. There is enough extra length on the blank to hold it in a spigot chuck while I drill and smooth the inside. I can refine the rim, and then flip it around onto the chuck. What size hole? Also the thimbles I have seen are tapered. Should I drill a smaller hole, and then try widening and tapering it with a scraper? (A really small scraper!) Looks like I had better turn it round before I drill it, so I don't shatterit when I knock the corners off.
Is the CSUSA thimble cutter any good? It is pricey, but for that many pens, it might be worth it. If this goes well, I may add this combo to my tables next year. (Like I need more things to put out for shows!
Thanks for answering this slightly off topic question,
Dave
I couldn't find any thimble threads in the search, so I am asking here. How would I go about doing this? I figure I will drill out the inside hole, and make a jamb chuck to hold it while I turn the outside. There is enough extra length on the blank to hold it in a spigot chuck while I drill and smooth the inside. I can refine the rim, and then flip it around onto the chuck. What size hole? Also the thimbles I have seen are tapered. Should I drill a smaller hole, and then try widening and tapering it with a scraper? (A really small scraper!) Looks like I had better turn it round before I drill it, so I don't shatterit when I knock the corners off.
Is the CSUSA thimble cutter any good? It is pricey, but for that many pens, it might be worth it. If this goes well, I may add this combo to my tables next year. (Like I need more things to put out for shows!
Thanks for answering this slightly off topic question,
Dave