Field Click Train Stick

[qquake]

The pen is a Field click in matte black from Turners Warehouse. The wood was a broken branch I picked up at the local trainyard, where I frequently go to watch trains. This is actually my second try. The wood, whatever it is, is very soft and tears more than cuts when turned. It's far from my best pen, but considering what I started with, I can live with it.

 

[qquake]

This was the first try. I tried flooding it with CA, but that didn't work. I finally tried 150 grit sandpaper, which worked, but either it or I was too aggressive. So I had to try again.

 

[jrista]

Well, amazing job turning that wood... Looks like it was quite the challenge. Pen looks good regardless. It may be simple, but sometimes that is best!

 

[Stuart Robertson]

Well, amazing job turning that wood... Looks like it was quite the challenge. Pen looks good regardless. It may be simple, but sometimes that is best!

What chisel/tool were you using? Were you scraping?
This could be the cause of the tear out.

 

[jrista]

What chisel/tool were you using? Were you scraping?
This could be the cause of the tear out.

I think you quoted the wrong post.

 

[qquake]

What chisel/tool were you using? Were you scraping?
This could be the cause of the tear out.

I was using a radiused carbide cutter with a shearing cut. Not scraping. And it was a new cutter for the second attempt.

 

[qquake]

For the second and successful attempt, I chose a different stick. No CA this time, I finished it with sandpaper. The final finish was Pens Plus.

 

[jrista]

Hey @qquake, mind if I ask...what kind of mandrel system are you using there? I don't think I've seen it anywhere than in your photos, but you seem to get very good results with it...

 

[qquake]

Hey @qquake, mind if I ask...what kind of mandrel system are you using there? I don't think I've seen it anywhere than in your photos, but you seem to get very good results with it...

I love it. It's the relatively new Ultra-Shear mandrel system from Woodpeckers. Best mandrel I've ever used. It was very expensive, and I didn't know if it would be worth the price. But it was, at least to me. Most accurate mandrel I've ever used. It replaced the collet chuck I was using.

Ultra-Shear Pen Mandrel System and Precision Pen Turning Bushings

If you’ve turned more than a couple pens, you’ve probably noticed that there’s just not much material left on top of the brass tube when you get finished. Any amount of misalignment can show up as brass showing through acrylic or even worse, a complete blow-out. None of the mandrels available on...

www.woodpeck.com

 

[jrista]

Thanks. Yeah, looks rather pricy... I'll do some more research. I still turn some pens that require a mandrel, as the bushings don't slip into the tubes (like slimline pen bushings, they have to be on a rod). I use the TBC mandrel thing from PSI right now, which works well enough, but sometimes I still have trouble with non-concentricity with that. I think it is because the bearing in the live center end requires a certain amount of pressure to actually function properly, a compression bearing basically.

 

[Stuart Robertson]

I think you quoted the wrong post.

I did...

 

[qquake]

Thanks. Yeah, looks rather pricy... I'll do some more research. I still turn some pens that require a mandrel, as the bushings don't slip into the tubes (like slimline pen bushings, they have to be on a rod). I use the TBC mandrel thing from PSI right now, which works well enough, but sometimes I still have trouble with non-concentricity with that. I think it is because the bearing in the live center end requires a certain amount of pressure to actually function properly, a compression bearing basically.

I've only ever turned one or two pens between centers. I didn't like it, and use the mandrel system exclusively.