Annual Pen Gift for Office

[Wmcullen]

I'm making a batch of about 20 pens for folks at the office, using ipe with a bit of hard maple this year.

Whenever I repeat the same design over and over, I usually stumble onto a small trick that saves time. This time it was a simple spacer.
I cut an old plastic card into small squares and drilled a quarter inch hole through each one. I slipped a spacer on either side of the center band before turning.

After turning the first pen, reusing those spacers let me:

1. Match the diameter from pen to pen with a quick visual check.
2. Since my center band was the same wood as the surrounding blank, the spacers made it easy to see the edges (because I wanted to cut a decorative center groove).
3. Pop the plastic off before sanding and finishing so nothing interfered with the final surface.

Nothing fancy, but it worked surprisingly well and kept the whole batch consistent.
- Cullen

 

[Woodchipper]

Very good idea for the contrasting woods. My complements on the pens.

 

[mark james]

I love your process.