Topsy
Member
Hello everone,
Yesterday I, once again, took up the experiment of trying to turn a kitless pen.
In the past I have successfully managed to turn sections. You'd think that this would be the hard part, but it seems that I have mistaken.
My lathe bed is very small and drilling on it is virtually impossible, unless I find miniature length drill bits..
At the moment they way I'm attempting the cap & barrel is the following:
I start by shortening the blank my about 1.5cm, for it won't fit at full length with a live center in the tailstock. (Just so you can put the above image into proportion..)
I turn it round in a 4jaw chuck.
On the tailstock end I'll drill a small center hole.
I then take the blank over to my drill press and drill the cap/barrel
holes with a 8mm and 9.25mm (thread) / 7, then 10mm and 11.25 (thread) drill, for the cap respectively.
Then I proceed to cut the inside threads. Lastnight I 'guided' the taps with the drill press' chuck by simply touching the tap, not clamping it, and turning the tap by hand.
Up to here the drill is not moved, so theoretically all the holes & threads should be on the same axis.
I have made threaded 'holders' for the barell/cap that inserts into my collet (, ER16, 10mm, I don't have a larger one currently). With the workpieces mounted to these I'll turn them down to shape and size.
However, latest by cutting the outside thread of the barrel I will mess up.
It's never even remotely straight. But for the 'holders' I appear to have managed..
Problem is, even if I'd have a die holder, I can't insert my workpiece anywhere anymore at this stage and would be forced to turn it down to the outer diametre before drilling.
And assuming that I manage to drill straight (because technically the drilling should be the first step that gives me a 'squared' starting point. I'm reluctant to mix it with something that might end up being off axis), I'd be afraid to turn down the blank to shape with the piece being held by a thread wall that thin.
Does anyone here have any brilliant ideas or should I put this project aside?
I really don't want to do the latter, but I also don't want to go on chasing something that might be impossible either..
I welcome your thoughts!
Topsy
is there a market for banana pens?
note: I turned the cap first.. Way too thin and then turned the barrel thinking I'll make a new cap for it, but since I had both parts I had to try it.
Yesterday I, once again, took up the experiment of trying to turn a kitless pen.
In the past I have successfully managed to turn sections. You'd think that this would be the hard part, but it seems that I have mistaken.
My lathe bed is very small and drilling on it is virtually impossible, unless I find miniature length drill bits..
At the moment they way I'm attempting the cap & barrel is the following:
I start by shortening the blank my about 1.5cm, for it won't fit at full length with a live center in the tailstock. (Just so you can put the above image into proportion..)
I turn it round in a 4jaw chuck.
On the tailstock end I'll drill a small center hole.
I then take the blank over to my drill press and drill the cap/barrel
holes with a 8mm and 9.25mm (thread) / 7, then 10mm and 11.25 (thread) drill, for the cap respectively.
Then I proceed to cut the inside threads. Lastnight I 'guided' the taps with the drill press' chuck by simply touching the tap, not clamping it, and turning the tap by hand.
Up to here the drill is not moved, so theoretically all the holes & threads should be on the same axis.
I have made threaded 'holders' for the barell/cap that inserts into my collet (, ER16, 10mm, I don't have a larger one currently). With the workpieces mounted to these I'll turn them down to shape and size.
However, latest by cutting the outside thread of the barrel I will mess up.
It's never even remotely straight. But for the 'holders' I appear to have managed..
Problem is, even if I'd have a die holder, I can't insert my workpiece anywhere anymore at this stage and would be forced to turn it down to the outer diametre before drilling.
And assuming that I manage to drill straight (because technically the drilling should be the first step that gives me a 'squared' starting point. I'm reluctant to mix it with something that might end up being off axis), I'd be afraid to turn down the blank to shape with the piece being held by a thread wall that thin.
Does anyone here have any brilliant ideas or should I put this project aside?
I really don't want to do the latter, but I also don't want to go on chasing something that might be impossible either..
I welcome your thoughts!
Topsy
is there a market for banana pens?
note: I turned the cap first.. Way too thin and then turned the barrel thinking I'll make a new cap for it, but since I had both parts I had to try it.