Wonder Windows conundrum

[qquake]

Last year, a friend of mine commissioned me to make him a Chicago Cubs pen. He chose a Wonder Windows blue and red blank. Life got in the way, but I'm finally getting to it. I trimmed the blank so I could see the centers of the pattern, and drilled pilot holes with a center drill. I used a Steb Center style drive from CSUSA, which worked surprisingly well. I took very, very light cuts, first with a roughing gouge, then with a carbide chisel. So now I have it turned relatively round, but have to figure out how to drill it completely centered. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[qquake]

I'm kind of leaning towards how I drilled an antler blank.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f14/need-antler-advice-135703/index2.html#post1805179

 

[Mike8850]

As long as it fits well I would use a collet chuck.
Mike

 

[eharri446]

If you have a Nova chuck with the Pen Plus jaws it will drill right down the middle.

 

[qquake]

If you have a Nova chuck with the Pen Plus jaws it will drill right down the middle.

Funny you should mention that. I just ordered a set.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EUUMZG8/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[PenPal]

If you have it round why not use your four jaws in the Nova Chuck, the two jaw one you ordered will be no more accurate methinks.

Peter.

 

[qquake]

If you have it round why not use your four jaws in the Nova Chuck, the two jaw one you ordered will be no more accurate methinks.

Peter.

I thought about that, but the pen drilling jaws are a lot longer than the standard jaws. To my way of thinking, it will hold the blank straighter during drilling.

 

[PenPal]

If you have it round why not use your four jaws in the Nova Chuck, the two jaw one you ordered will be no more accurate methinks.

Peter.

I thought about that, but the pen drilling jaws are a lot longer than the standard jaws. To my way of thinking, it will hold the blank straighter during drilling.

Jim you could be right when I adapt things to use drill chucks I go for the ones used in hammer drills and the like for that same reason longer holding. I bought the combined jaws and chuck from Timberbits to do Lace Bobbins etc.

Peter.

 

[magpens]

I just looked it up on ExoticBlanks ... at $19.95 that is an expensive blank !

It would be nice if it came with the centers accurately marked at the ends.

If it were me, I would phone Ed Brown or send him an email to get instructions.

You say that "I have it turned relatively round". . Hmmm ... relatively ... that worries me.

If you are going to grip it at the outside in order to drill it (on the lathe) don't you need the outside to be accurately round ? ... and centered on the axis ?

 

[qquake]

It did come with instructions. That's where I got the idea of cutting it in half to see the center of the pattern and using the center drill. It's as round and centered as I can get it. I'm confident that it can be drilled accurately with the Nova chuck jaws that I ordered. You're right, it is an expensive, as well as complex blank. I didn't realize it would be this difficult when my friend chose it. The pen kit he chose is a magnetic Vertex rollerball with one turned body, so I have two chances to get it right.

 

[stuckinohio]

Jim,

I think Mal has a good point regarding accurately turned round. In addition, You will also have to worry about your lathe tailstock and headstock being aligned perfectly, which doesn't seem to be the case most of the time. You'll have to check the blank with calipers all the way down it. If the measurements vary at all down the side, I think you'll have mixed results since the chuck will be using the sides of the blank to grip. Also, I'm not exactly sold on the accuracy of most 4 jaw self centering wood chucks.

I drill antler in exactly the same way you do because it allows you to see the entrance and exit points. You might be right about it being the way to do it.

Technically, you could also turn a sacrificial wood blank round then try it in the chuck jaws you bought. After you drill it, you will know right away if it's accurate or not.

Lewis

 

[qquake]

Like I said, the blank is long enough for two bodies, so I have two tries. If drilling it with the Nova chuck doesn't work, I'll try the antler method.

 

[qquake]

The blank drilling jaws worked better than I hoped.

 

[stuckinohio]

perfect. I'm glad it worked out!

 

[magpens]

Excellent !!