What is your dislikes about pen turning ????

[7miles]

Well I'm still kinda new to this pen turning hobby. I tell you, I really enjoy pretty much everything about it. Except scuffing them brass tubes. I really don't like sanding them tubes.

So how about it, what is your dislikes about pen turning??

Also how do you handle scuffing them tubes?

Dale

 

[cowchaser]

I don't like that I can't afford to do whatever I want and lack the knowledge to do most of it.

As far as scuffing the tubes, I just use a piece of plumbers emery paper and scuff half then flip it around and scuff the other half. Takes a whole 30 seconds (well maybe a minute).

 

[mrcook4570]

Originally posted by 7miles
Also how do you handle scuffing them tubes?

6x48 Belt sander and old mandrel (with arbor still in place to protect fingers). Just a couple of seconds and three tubes are scuffed.

 

[drawknife]

Sand the tubes by sticking them in a drill, spin it with emery cloth, turn it around do the other end.

What I dislike the most is my seeming inability to drill a completely straight hole in the blank.

 

[Marc Phillips]

I hate click pen kits...

 

[leehljp]

1. Not enough time to to turn when I want to!
2. It is a little like Golf - technique refining gets harder the better you get! [xx(]
3. A few "fly by night" persons who come in to show everyone "how it is done" and actually does it! (Most who think they are going to show off - don't.) [B)]
4. Truly skilled persons who make it look so easy! [}]

The real problem that I had to overcome:
5. Changing my focus from "looking forward to the end product" to "enjoying the work."
Truthfully for me early on, I would rush a step here and there to get that beautifully finished pen that only comes with patience, preparation and experience.

 

[thewishman]

CA glue splatters all over my hands.

Making that "one last pass" and blowing out a perfect pen.

Having only one electrical outlet in the <s>garage</s> pen studio (and sharing that one with the deep freezer.)

Waiting for glue to set.

Too low and too high temperatures in the aforementioned "studio."

Chris

 

[GBusardo]

Originally posted by thewishman


Making that "one last pass" and blowing out a perfect pen.

I agree with Chris, that does tick me off, or another favorite is when I mix up the bushings [)]

But those are really just my mistakes, what really ticks me off are things like:
1254126 different drill bit sizes and bushing sizes, especially the bushing sizes that differ from manufacturer to manufacturer on essentially the same kit.

 

[IPD_Mrs]

I really only have two complaints. First is not enough time to do what I want turning wise. Second and these two are not in any order, not getting to meet some of the turners I have met here to share ideas, techniques and lies.

Mike

 

[Milpaul]

Originally posted by drawknife
What I dislike the most is my seeming inability to drill a completely straight hole in the blank.

Definitely agree there! I have jig for my vise that is set up perfect (or so I think) that I take off and put on my drill press table when needed. Just be sure when you do have a hole that doesn't seem straight through the blank that you don't go overboard changing your drilling set-up. It took me a while to realize sometimes it is just the blank! Also a good tip when you know your blank is perfectly squared to use this as a "master" when aligning your blank holder.

 

[toolcrazy]

No heat in the shop. Takes too long for the spacer heater to heat it up.

Not enough time to turn.

 

[RussFairfield]

You can easilly solve that problem. Don't. A lot of very good penturners don't sand their tubes, and I don't see their pens falling apart.

 

[CHICAGOHAND]

I place my tubes on the insertion tool and give it a couple spins with 220 grit.
my complaint is that noone wants to buy my 10 pens for $1000000.00.

 

[bitshird]

Not having enough money to buy a bunch of kits, I have several gallons of PR and quite a few colorants, but not enough for kits @$^*&! %^ *%&&[}][}]

 

[Ligget]

I always sand my tubes, stick them quickly on the between centres set up on my lathe and sand.

My biggest gripe is having to go overseas to get quality kits![V]

 

[CrazyBear]

Originally posted by ligget

I always sand my tubes, stick them quickly on the between centres set up on my lathe and sand.

My biggest gripe is having to go overseas to get quality kits![V]

Closely followed by Customs charges and Post office Handling ChargeGGGGRRRRRrrrrrrrr

 

[DavidSpavin]

Sweeping the floor is high on my list and no heating in the workshop.

 

[saltwein]

After three years, on again, off again success with ca finish. One pen it works perfectly and the next it will be a fight!

If I am scuffing a lot of 7mm tubes I have a piece of hex brass that I have tapered so the tube slides over it. I put it in the drill press and slide the tube over it while holding it in 80 grit. Sandpaper slides to top of tube and then I pull it off and repeat with another tube. Do a bunch in a couple minutes and no pain in arthritic hands.

Regards, Steve

 

[Russianwolf]

1) getting the blank square with the tubes.
2) there are at least 5 versions of the Euro and all are different tube/bushings. And one version will have a matching pencil in one plating but not the others.
3) not being able to afford the really nice stuff all the time. (kits and blanks)
4) not making as nice of pens as some of our members (skiprat comes to mind, but isn't my only benchmark)
5) not enough time. (well, I could spend more, but my wife might divorce me)

 

[7miles]

Oh, these are some good ones. In reading this post I think I found a couple more that I dislike

I mixed my bushing up one time....Thats all it took for me to fix the problem. It shouldn't happen again, I hope. I used the wire shower curtain loops, some teacup hooks and some plywood. I labeled the ply,
and the shower curtain loops. With the bushing numbers. Can't really mess them up anymore. I got the idea from here....Not really sure from who. I wish I did give credit where credit is due.

The problem I have with the tube is the pain in arthritic hands as well.
I can see with all there great suggestions I won't have that problem to much longer.


Dale

 

[edstreet]

Lets see, dislikes.

Dust! I hate getting wood chips and dust over everything, it's a health hazard and quite nasty.

CA Burns on the skin, quite nasty as well and puts you out of action for a short period of time.

As for the glue setting that could be a dislike but I use Loctite 324 speed bonder for the pen tubes, they will never come out once I put them in, really not much need in sanding the tubes either.

Ed

 

[Chasper]

Sharpening tools is the number one job that I dislike. I need something like a pencil sharpener, just push the tool point in and pull it out sharp.

I don't like wearing rubber gloves, but I'm even less fond of CA on my fingers.

Out of several hundred pens that I've made I've scuffed up maybe 3-4 tube sets. It didn't seem to improve anything so I haven't done it since.

 

[SuperDave]

CA on the fingers...
Some kit prices...
Lack of standards in kit manufacturing between kit dimensions (tubes, etc.)...[xx(]
Inventory fluctuations at suppliers...[V]
My perfectionist attitude...[}]

 

[karlkuehn]

Hmmm, if I had to pick just one thing, it'd be gluing tubes in blanks. Always messy for me, no matter what I do.

 

[philb]

Being in the UK, it has to be the lack of decent kits closer to home! Although importing isn't that hard, the wait and the fees charged to bring them over is disgusting!

CA finish! When it works its assume! But when it doesn't, that skew chisel could easily be used as a weapon against the bloody stuff! Whether its clouding, or the paper towel sticking or too thicker glue so i gets in a lump! Worth it for the ones that do work though!

Last of all, why do we have to be perfectionists! The average public wouldn't know the difference between the finish that took 15mins or the one that looks similar but took an hour to get all those final scratches out!

 

[alamocdc]

Having LOML call me in from the shop... for anything. It usually happens at the most inopportune moments when I'm in the middle of a glue-up, or finish application.

I bounce the tubes on my benchtop belt sander.

 

[ElMostro]

For Gentlemen and Statesman pens...drilling both blank halves with the same diameter bit...and noticing after both holes are drilled

 

[jwoodwright]

Paying extra for shipping because I choose to live in Alaska.

(Alaska, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Hawaii and Guam) they all pay more for S+H.

 

[papaturner]

My personal cure for the roughing of the tubes is a sand`o`flex with a 150 grit refill does a wonderful job. Therefore what I dislike most has to be the dust.

Perry

 

[MarkHix]

Dislikes: cleaning up afterwards, there is a car in my shop, blanks and kits cost money, my tools are average at best, my ideas take multiple attempts.

tubes: steel wool when i remember.

 

[Freethinker]

Dislikes;

One time of year when i have plenty of time to turn, it is 120+ degrees inside my shop.

Brutal. I can take it for a few minutes, but then the sweat pouring off just gets in the way too much.

The other time of year when i have plenty of time to turn, it is very cold in the shop. Have to take nearly all finishing supplies in nightly, too cold for CA to set up properly, etc.

The fact that no matter how long I take setting up my cheapo foreign made drill press, i cannot seem to get a hole drilled dead center thru a blank.

(side note; anyone have a suggestion for an affordable but somewhat accurate brand/model of drill press??)

 

[Firefyter-emt]

Mark, did you get that trick from me by chance?? That is exactly how I do mine!

Originally posted by ligget

I always sand my tubes, stick them quickly on the between centres set up on my lathe and sand.

My biggest gripe is having to go overseas to get quality kits![V]

 

[EasyGreasy]

Never sanded a tube. Never had an issue with it.

Dislikes, humm. Moisture spots on my finish. The smell of the bufflo horn, antler and certain types of desert ironwood. Dropping springs and small parts in the sawdust and spending 30 minutes finding it. Working 5 hours on an ugly pen. Relatives and friends that expect a discount. Making custom pens for people that change their mind. Finding a small scratch after final assembly. Dealing with rude public. Pushing the transmission in a wee bit far. Pens that dont write well. Rude vendors. Bent mandrels. And wifes that say you love your lathe more than you love me.

Likes, ..sawdust, the look in someones eyes when they see a truely buietiful pen, the feel of a good finish, the cut of a well sharpened tool, the sound of my lathe and hanging out in my garage when the world is going nuts. And the way a truely well made pen writes.

 

[Ligget]

Originally posted by Firefyter-emt

Mark, did you get that trick from me by chance?? That is exactly how I do mine!

Originally posted by ligget

I always sand my tubes, stick them quickly on the between centres set up on my lathe and sand.

My biggest gripe is having to go overseas to get quality kits![V]

Lee it probably was your post that gave me the idea!

 

[Jarheaded]

The only thing that I really hate is when I am just about done turning an expensive blank and at the last second it blows up and get sucked into the dust collector. Some of my best work is in there.
Johnnie

 

[rherrell]

I dislike that I only have time to do it on weekends. However, on weekends I'm in the shop from 5 am to 6 pm Sat. AND Sun. and only go in the house 30 min. for lunch.

 

[Texatdurango]

Originally posted by 7miles

So how about it, what is your dislikes about pen turning??

I have only one dislike and that is Pen turning is so addicting! I bought my lathe to start turning "things" and so far all I've managed are pens!

Everytime I get the urge to grab a nice chink of wood and try my hand at a bowel or vase, I have an idea for another pen design and guess what... another pen!

 

[jrc]

Sorry I can not think of one. I can think of plenty before pen turning. When building a house working in -20 weather in Vermont or working in the cold rain or hate the hour drive or just not wanting to be there. Well I guess there is one, getting to many orders so close in a roll. It still beats the other.

 

[arjudy]

Cleaning up the mess after making a dozen pens. The stink of deer antler or buffalo horn, but it's worth it in the end.

 

[drayman]

dislikes, mmm let me see. oh yes its cleaning up afterwards[V][V]