Best Commercial Blank Trimmer

[shastastan]

I've had some poor results with some trimmers using a hand drill and drill press. I decided to buy and try this:

Lathe Trimming Bit at Penn State Industries

This bit grabs the end of the blank. I'm using the PSI blank chuck. Prior to this, I would use a little dozuki saw and cut off most of the excess leaving about 1/8th inch beyond the tube ends. Then I would just finish the job on a 10" disk sander. The pen mill that I had would reall catch on the drill press, but I may have not been using the proper size cutter. If there's a good quality pen mill or something similar, I'm willing to give it another try. Any comments, please? Thanks.

 

[JTisher]

I still use a disk sander, or lately I've been facing them on the metal lathe

Joe

 

[low_48]

I can't see how that thing is going to work well at all. No pilot in the tube to limit vibration. I'd send it back and buy one of these. http://www.penturners.org/forum/f172/custom-made-penturning-tools-accessories-92501/

 

[The Penguin]

when I use a barrel trimmer - I hold the blank in my hand and use a cordless drill. Not a drill press.

 

[BayouPenturner]

I have used the one you discussed, it works well, the biggest issue is you can trim off too much off the blank.

 

[shastastan]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'm going to do what I've done in the past. It seems that's what gives me the best and easiest results. The tools I use, I've had for years. I use the opposite end of the line scribe as a depth gauge since it fits into the tube. I leave 1/16th to 1/8th and square the rest on my HF 10" disk sander. Here's a pic of the tools:

 

[low_48]

How long do you cut the blank in the first place? Plain wood like that doesn't meet to be much longer than 1/8 on both ends to start with.

 

[shastastan]

How long do you cut the blank in the first place? Plain wood like that doesn't meet to be much longer than 1/8 on both ends to start with.

That's what I thought, too. That makes logical sense to me. Yet all the instructions that I've read seem call for 5" on most pens. If I lay the tubes next to the blank, there sure seems like a lot of excess wood to cut off. I cut most of my blanks in advance. Ones that I've bought are always too long for the tubes. Looks like I've just gotten into the habit of cutting them to long. I haven't had any glue up problems though except sometimes I use too much glue and it may get into one end of the tube. I'm going to try and cut the blanks shorter based you your comment and see what happens. thanks.

 

[kovalcik]

Definitely cut your blanks shorter. Allow around 1/8"-1/4" extra. Then when you use the barrel trimmer it should take that extra little bit off each end quickly and easily. Also, touch up your cutter with a diamond stone. It makes a world of difference.

I think most problems with barrel trimmers can be traced back to trying to take off too much of the blank and dull cutters. Keep the blanks cut close and the cutter sharp and they work very well.

 

[JasonC]

I'm happy with my Whiteside reamer/barrel trimmer.

 

[raar25]

Still wishing someone made a 4 cutter carbide!

 

[seamus7227]

I haven't had any glue up problems though except sometimes I use too much glue and it may get into one end of the tube.

you should try a product called dental base wax. It comes in sheets measuring around 3"x 8" and about 1mm thick. All you do is have it laying flat on a table and mash your tube (hole opening)down onto the wax so that it plugs the end, do both sides and then once you have your CA inside the pen blank hole, you insert the tube using a twisting motion into the blank. When the tube is where you want it, grab a q-tip and swab any excess CA on the ends(this prevents extra work once it dries) and when the tube is set, you just take your x-acto knife and pick out the wax plug, its actually quite simple and much easier than picking out glue or even overscraping the inside of the tube which can compromise the pen component fit during final assembly.
I hope this helps and also hope it makes sense!

 

[shastastan]

Definitely cut your blanks shorter. Allow around 1/8"-1/4" extra. Then when you use the barrel trimmer it should take that extra little bit off each end quickly and easily. Also, touch up your cutter with a diamond stone. It makes a world of difference.

I think most problems with barrel trimmers can be traced back to trying to take off too much of the blank and dull cutters. Keep the blanks cut close and the cutter sharp and they work very well.

I've been cutting by hand but now I started using my bandsaw. I guess I didn't before because I thought I might want to change from the resaw blade. I just take it slow and easy and concentrate on the line. This makes sense for me and will make the trimming much easier. Here's 2 pics:

 

[shastastan]

I haven't had any glue up problems though except sometimes I use too much glue and it may get into one end of the tube.

you should try a product called dental base wax. It comes in sheets measuring around 3"x 8" and about 1mm thick. All you do is have it laying flat on a table and mash your tube (hole opening)down onto the wax so that it plugs the end, do both sides and then once you have your CA inside the pen blank hole, you insert the tube using a twisting motion into the blank. When the tube is where you want it, grab a q-tip and swab any excess CA on the ends(this prevents extra work once it dries) and when the tube is set, you just take your x-acto knife and pick out the wax plug, its actually quite simple and much easier than picking out glue or even overscraping the inside of the tube which can compromise the pen component fit during final assembly.
I hope this helps and also hope it makes sense!

It makes sense, but I use an insertion tool. I drill the blank holes, put the tubes on the insertion tool, put the glue on the tube, and put the tube into the blank and twist it around. I was using the PSI blank cutter, but I'm going back to a pen mill. Not sure if I'll use the drill press, hand drill, or the tail stock. Guess I'll just try em all and see which I like best.

I realize now that I have been making my blanks too thick which left stock on the sides after using with the pen mill. I have been following the instructions that come with the various pen kits for the blanks and I've found that those are always too thick or too long. However, if I buy precut blanks from CSUSA or PSI, their blanks are always 3/4". I make all of my own blanks now though so I can blame myself if they are not dimensioned right.
Thanks for your tip.

 

[sbell111]

I don't worry very much that my blanks are too thick. Whatever I don't need gets turned away.

 

[BSea]

I round my blanks before I drill, then after the tube is set, I put the blank into a collet chuck & face the blank down to the tube with a parting tool. When it gets close, I can use the edge of the tool at a slight angle to shave the blank down to the tube. The blank is then perfectly square. I've never had a chip out using his method. I can also dress the end of the brass tube to be sure there are no burrs. I also use wax to seal the ends before glueing. I remove the wax with a center punch. It may be a little slower this way, but My blanks fit perfectly.