Buying a new Pen Press

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Madison Lathe

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2013
Messages
2
Location
Iowa
I need recommendations for a pen press. What brand? Where to buy? I have been researching presses and it seems like many don't get a good review, because they are not durable.
 
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My press:

main_handscrew-clamp.jpg
 
here's mine.
penpress1.jpg


It's mounted to my bench using a flange. The pipe threads into the flange. Works great.
penpress2.jpg


I'm going to get a 24" pipe instead of the 18". It will be easier to see at that height. I may eventually get a bench vice. I could see where it would work just as well.
 
As shown above, there are many ways to press a pen. I use a hex bolt upside down in my drill press. A dedicated pen press is useful but not essential. Use what you already have and put the money to use elsewhere.

John
 
I use the PSI press (here: Spring Loaded Heavy-Duty Pen Assembly Press V4 at Penn State Industries ). It develops as much pressure as you'll need and is easy to set up. Actually, just about anything works, you just have to be meticulous that hte inside of the tube is free of epoxy, CA or whatever. And you have to use steady, even pressure. No Wham, bam, thank you Ma'am. DAMHIKT.
 
pen press

I also use the PSI pen press. I have used all of the others mentioned also and by farc the PSI is the best. Let me know if you want to buy some old presses. I can dig the out of the junk pile for you.




Dennis
Pine Lumber :bananen_smilies104::RockOn:
 
The one I now use is the one from Miles Craft and a video can be seen at Milescraft Turners Pen Press Presented by Woodcraft - YouTube . Many vendors sell it. I got mine from Ariozona Silhouette but it is available from Amazon. Today I saw one at Woodcraft in Ft. Worth.

I recently used this pen press continuously for two days and it never missed a beat.
Do a good turn daily!
Don
 

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Was using a Zyliss, but after trying the MilesCraft, I don't think you could find an easier or more efficient press. Instantly adjustable, spring loaded and can press a slim transmission the perfect length in one shot. The Zyliss is back in the drawer.
 
Arbor press from harbor freight here, very reasonable. I also cut a all piece of hard rubber and gorilla glued it to each side of the press so that the steel doesn't mar the pens I make.
 
I have tried an arbor press, pipe clamp, pistol grip hand clamp, Bessy wooden clamp, modified drill press, and even some homemade contraptions and find none of the alternative pen pressing methods satisfactory. I'll keep using my pen press. I know that several use these alternative methods and that is fine if they work for them.
Do a good turn daily!
Don
 
The one I now use is the one from Miles Craft and a video can be seen at Milescraft Turners Pen Press Presented by Woodcraft - YouTube . Many vendors sell it. I got mine from Ariozona Silhouette but it is available from Amazon. Today I saw one at Woodcraft in Ft. Worth.

I recently used this pen press continuously for two days and it never missed a beat.
Do a good turn daily!
Don


This is the same one I use. Picked it up from Woodcraft almost a year ago. No problems with it at all. A pen press is not 100% neccessary, but it made things easier for me.
 
I have the MilesCraft press and have been very happy with it. Just make sure to put something soft on the ends of the press (leather would be good).
 
I have one I bought at Woodcraft a few years ago. It is an older model without any additional plastic inserts or any springs and it works good. I find it is easier for me to use than a hand clamp or drill press method. I like it and use it all the time. I have a couple of screws that I connect it to my workbench with while I am using it, otherwise it is up on the shelf out of the way.
Tim.
 
I have one from Woodcraft simply because, when I bought my lathe the guy was nice enough to throw it in for free. It works well with no problems.

However, I saw a thread recently where you can use your headstock and tailstock to press pen parts together. It showed a plastic insert for each but you could just as easily turn a couple of pieces of wood to fit. Should work fine too.

joe
 
I've been using a vise. My dad got me a clamp that works exactly like a pen press from the scrap bin at his work. All I need to do is mount it to somthing and make an adjustable jig for length.

But I guess that has nothing to do with buying one or which ones are good quality, sorry. :redface: :smile:
 
The wood craft one I have is a few years old the black knob is on top not the back, mine is not like the one posted back a few with the WC link.
But mine does work well.
 
Miles craft

Being very new to pen making, I started with a Bessey clamp and it worked fine. Next I adapted a Kreg jig pocket hole clamp and it was even better.

After having ruined a few poorly aligned ( operator error) assemblies, I got the Milescraft...........won't look back, it's the cat's meow!
 
Somewhere around this tablet of mine I have plans to build a pen press...I've just never gotten a round tuit... lol.

If there be any interest send me a pm and I will see if I can locate the plan and send to ya.

I just use a 4" machinist's bench vise to press my pens together...

Thanks
Geo
 
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2 MT2 stub arbours with some Delrin stuck on with double-sided tape works for me!
 

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