Beall Pen Wizard Question

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

Pen Zen

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2017
Messages
203
Location
North Richland Hills, TX
I am thinking about getting a Pen Wizard. But after reviewing some old threads on this site it doesn't seem many people here use it. And the pens that do get posted here made using the pen wizard just don't seem to get a lot of positive feedback.

Is it just cheesy or gimmicky to add all those spirals and designs?
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

Pen Zen

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2017
Messages
203
Location
North Richland Hills, TX
Went ahead and pulled the trigger while waiting to hear if I made a mistake. Fifteen percent off today on eBay so saved about $50 if anyone else is interested.
 

Dieseldoc

Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2017
Messages
1,511
Location
Livermore, Ca 94550
Interesting to see how it works out for you. I have seen some great project pen coming off one.
Good luck, If you don't try you will never know, Right
 

TonyL

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
8,904
Location
Georgia
I own one and yes, it is an amazing machine, but I found the learning curve steep too. Don..I would love to see a video of how you do the rope and 8 sided barrel.
 

its_virgil

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
Messages
8,101
Location
Wichita Falls, TX, USA.
Toni,
I will work on that. To do a realistic rope twist this router but is needed along with a way to hold it. I use the boredom 44T handset with the Harbor Freight rotary tool ...foredom knock off.
Don


Rope Pen Router Bits, 2 Flute Carbide Tipped: 7597


I own one and yes, it is an amazing machine, but I found the learning curve steep too. Don..I would love to see a video of how you do the rope and 8 sided barrel.
 

KiwiBob

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
49
Location
New Zealand
Hi Don
I can't fathom how that router bit does rope twist. Looks like it has a flat bottom. Do you use it on the side rather than on the top
Cheers
Bob
 

KiwiBob

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
49
Location
New Zealand
I have had my Pen Wizard for a few months and made a few nice looking pens but have struggled to get a quality finish.
I have no problem getting a high gloss CA finish on cylindrical pens but the twisted sculptured shapes produced in the Pen Wizard are hard to finish without a lot of laborious hand polishing.
Is there a better/faster way to finish these pens
 

Bryguy

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2013
Messages
970
Location
New Hampshire
I love my pen wizard. I have found it interesting though that the extra work doesn't seem to pay off with customers except on the lower priced pens.
 

TonyL

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
8,904
Location
Georgia
Toni,
I will work on that. To do a realistic rope twist this router but is needed along with a way to hold it. I use the boredom 44T handset with the Harbor Freight rotary tool ...foredom knock off.
Don


Rope Pen Router Bits, 2 Flute Carbide Tipped: 7597


I own one and yes, it is an amazing machine, but I found the learning curve steep too. Don..I would love to see a video of how you do the rope and 8 sided barrel.

Thank you Don, but don't do it on my account. I am also going to stick with my Dremel. I have so much equipment (including a bandsaw that I bought a year ago still in boxes unopened..if the dremel can't do it, I will live without it...but thanks) I need to order some snake blanks now that I can't attend the conference. Have a great one Don!
 

KBs Pensnmore

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
834
Location
Murray Bridge 5253 Australia
I have had my Pen Wizard for a few months and made a few nice looking pens but have struggled to get a quality finish.
I have no problem getting a high gloss CA finish on cylindrical pens but the twisted sculptured shapes produced in the Pen Wizard are hard to finish without a lot of laborious hand polishing.
Is there a better/faster way to finish these pens

Hi Bob, To get a decent polish on the pens, I use the Beall Buffing System, a three mop system, that uses 2 different cutting compounds and finishes with Carnuba Wax. I don't use it as much as I'd like.
Kryn
 

Pen Zen

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2017
Messages
203
Location
North Richland Hills, TX
Okay. The responses have made me feel both better and worse about my purchase. Better because it seems some nice things can be done with the Pen Wizard, worse because they are hard to learn to do.

Can anybody recommend a set of bits to use with the Pen Wizard. I would like to be able to cut both wood and acrylic blanks if that is something that can be done.
 

RobS

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
1,037
Location
Carlsbad, CA
I bought the pen wizard, with the bit combo pack, and run that on an old dremmel. I also bought the foredom mentioned earlier and run that too. The dremel is easier to run because it is light weight, but harder to adjust if you are making polygon pens. I found the foredom much easier to adjust. The only thing I have had time to make is faceted polygon vertex pens, and bolt actions. The simple facets really beefed up the look to another level and my customers have loved them. It helps especially with the Jack Daniels plain jane blanks. To be Frank, I bought it because I saw several projects I wanted to do in the pen makers bible. I figured why not? Beall may not always be around and I figured get it while I could. I hope to do more with it, when I clear out my small back log of orders.
 

its_virgil

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
Messages
8,101
Location
Wichita Falls, TX, USA.
I use not mounted on top of the blank. It is not flat...has two curved cutting surfaces meeting at the center. I have a couple of Sierra blanks with the rope twist. We are traveling at the moment. I will find the blanks and the bit and post a picture tomorrow evening. Maybe it will help. I tried other various router bits but it wasn't until I found this bit could I get a true rope twist. It is the bit the makers of the Legacy series of mills uses and recommends. Works nicely.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Hi Don
I can't fathom how that router bit does rope twist. Looks like it has a flat bottom. Do you use it on the side rather than on the top
Cheers
Bob
 

its_virgil

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2004
Messages
8,101
Location
Wichita Falls, TX, USA.
Bit choices will depend on what you use to hold them. Your choice of bits will be determined by the tool you use to hold them. I use a Foredom type rotary tool from Harbor Freight. The Foredon 44T handset will fit on the end of the flex shaft (at least is does on mine which is several yrs old.) Using the boredom handset allows me to use router bits with a 1/4 inch diameter shaft. So, I can use any router bit. I started out using a core box bit but for the rope twist but did not like how it looks. For the 8-sided flats I use a bit with a flat cutting surface. It may be a bit for cutting rabbits (slots).

Here is a link to bits offered by JR Beall on the Beall Tool website: The Beall Tool Company

Do a good turn daily!
Don

Can anybody recommend a set of bits to use with the Pen Wizard. I would like to be able to cut both wood and acrylic blanks if that is something that can be done.
 

Bryguy

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2013
Messages
970
Location
New Hampshire
I too am using the Harbor Freight rotary tool. It is a heck of a lot cheaper than a Foredom and works very well, foot speed control and everything.
 
Top Bottom