Hi from Australia

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jaynev

jaynev

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2026
Messages
2
Location
Sydney
Hello everyone, I just recently discovered this forum and would like to have a go at making my own pen. My brother gave me his first lathe a few years ago when he was building up his machining business and no longer used it. It's a HAFCO metal lathe similar to many Taiwan built lathes from the mid 1980's. For a variety of reasons the lathe has been sitting in the garage unused taunting me, but now I am finally able to start learning how to use it and I thought making some pens would be a fun way to learn some new skills. So far I am enjoying looking at all the different pens people are making here.
 
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Welcome Jay! Metal lathes can be used to make pens. Most pen mandrels have a MT1 or 2 socket at the head stock end of the pen, but you can mount the bare rod in chuck jaws. The cross slide and tool bit are not optimum for making pens. Turning Tools are usually hand held and guided. You can make a tool post mount and use standard turning tools. Check with a local wood / machine supplier for groups near you. Woodturners are a very helpful bunch.
 
randyrls said:
Welcome Jay! Metal lathes can be used to make pens. Most pen mandrels have a MT1 or 2 socket at the head stock end of the pen, but you can mount the bare rod in chuck jaws. The cross slide and tool bit are not optimum for making pens. Turning Tools are usually hand held and guided. You can make a tool post mount and use standard turning tools. Check with a local wood / machine supplier for groups near you. Woodturners are a very helpful bunch.
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I am actually interested in making metal pens. Probably initially start with aluminium or brass because I already have some material to make a few pens, or more likely mistakes before making my first pen. Later, after aiming some experience, I would like to try stainless steel or titanium.
 
Welcome to the group!

A metal lathe is a definite plus for pen making in my eyes. No matter what the material, the lathe will handle it. Many advanced pen makers start out on a wood lathe and move through to a metal lathe to get the added increase in tolerances, ability to make your own mandrels, tooling, and ability to utilize harder materials that require the metal lathe capacity. I have been eyeing a metal lathe as my next machine for a good while just for those reasons.

You will need to adjust some of the tooling with the metal lathe, as you wouldn't normally use hand held tools on metal. Boring bars, different methods of tapering, and work holding will be the norm vs the classic wood tooling. You also have the ability to do threading on a metal lathe if your setup has the gearing. There are a good number of folks here who use a metal lathe, so hopefully you can gain some good insight into items of consideration by just being here!

Kevin
 
Welcome but please be careful on a metalwork lathe ( not that you wont be but there are usually more bits to catch yourself on)

have fun . Aluminium can be hand turned readily ( but some grades are better than others )
 
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