First pen

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CraigC

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Joined
Jan 13, 2026
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Turned my first pen today. Slimline in cherry. Made this for my wife who is a breast cancer survivor.
My newbie thoughts:

First mistake ? I cut the blank exactly in half. I will trim off one end of future ones because the two blank pieces don't need to be that long. Second, I found that my old craftsman drill press doesn't have the depth for the bit to go all the way through the blank piece. So either a new press or maybe a chuck to hold the blank on the lathe and drill that way. Third, because of the drill press, it was impossible to use the squaring off mandrel, so I used it in a hand held drill. I'm thinking of trying to sand the ends next time. I think I could make out the shiny brass of the tube ends better. Fourth, finally started turning. Was running about 2900. Seems the blank would stop turning several times - was I trying to take off too much? I felt like I was just barely touching the blank. Turned the tailstock crank a little which seemed to help slightly. I'm using a mandrel saver. Fifth, I think I should take the faceplate off the headstock or use more bushings at that end because I found that my left hand would rub against that faceplate while turning. Just need a little more room. Sixth, I should have turned further on the ends - didn't quite match the bushing diameters. 7th, I had to push the pen mechanism past the indentation to get the refill point out to an acceptable length. Seems to work though. So I had it all sanded and polished and assembled and proudly took it to the wife. She was elated and started writing with it. Then said, is the clip supposed to spin too? 😀 So I took it back to the press and applied more pressure. All seems well. I'm looking forward to doing more in the future but I'll have to say there's more to it than what I thought. All in all, I don't think it turned out too bad.
Any advice appreciated.
 

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You did very well for your first pen. The middle looks a little underturned. Best advice I can give you is to use a caliper or micrometer to match your turned diameter to your pen components. Use bushings to get close. I square my blanks with a sanding method. I do mostly segmented pens and a barrel trimmer plays havoc with them. I find it more accurate to drill on the lathe and a good set of centering bits greatly helps drilling a straight true hole. All in all, you did a great job and I'm sure your wife loves the pen. Also, since you're using a mandrel saver, you probably just needed a little more pressure..
 
CraigC said:
Turned my first pen today. Slimline in cherry. Made this for my wife who is a breast cancer survivor.
My newbie thoughts:

First mistake ?
Click to expand...
It's only a mistake if you do it again..... that's how we learn. I make/made almost every "mistake" and adjust. It's a fun learning process. Performing is the teacher. Your first pen looks excellent.
 
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Congrats to your wife on her new pen and being cancer free!

I'll not add to the comments above, you seem to have some ideas on how to do things differently the next time around along with some suggestions.

There is no sarcasm font.... If you "need" a new drill press pen making does need very accurate holes. Unless you go to a large size you may not get enough throw on a new press and wind up drilling on the lathe anyway.

Keep turning!
 
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. Ya'll make it look so easy, but this is surely a learn as you go thing. I do have a question about drilling on the lathe. Some videos I've watched shows the user with their hand on the drill chuck as they drill. What is the need in that? I would think the tailstock would keep the chuck and bit steady.
Thanks again!
 
CraigC said:
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. Ya'll make it look so easy, but this is surely a learn as you go thing. I do have a question about drilling on the lathe. Some videos I've watched shows the user with their hand on the drill chuck as they drill. What is the need in that? I would think the tailstock would keep the chuck and bit steady.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...

If the bit begins to bind or catch in the wood, and it happens, it can cause the Jacobs Chuck's Morris Taper to loosen or even pull from the tail stock quill and begin to spin.

The BEST solution is to use a draw bar (threaded rod that comes in from the back of the tailstock and screws into the end of the Morris Taper on the Jacobs Chuck) to hold it in tightly.

Holding the chuck steadies things and can also help keep the chuck properly seated, or at least you have some control if it begins to loosen. There are a few important considerations if you do this.
  1. NO GLOVES. You don't want them getting caught and pulling your hands in.
  2. Hold the chuck with your PALM UP. This is a biomechanics thing. If you hand is palm up, you can retain your grip and have some control while you turn off the machine. If you are holding the chuck palm down, it will rotate your wrist down and break your grip and nothing good happens after that.
Have fun and stay safe.

The pen looks great for your first pen!
 
CraigC said:
I do have a question about drilling on the lathe. Some videos I've watched shows the user with their hand on the drill chuck as they drill. What is the need in that? I would think the tailstock would keep the chuck and bit steady.
Click to expand...
I have wondered the same thing and I've been turning pens for more than 10 years. I believe it is to minimize vibration but I still don't understand.

You did an admirable job with your first pen. Keep up the good work.

Things I've learned along the way.
- Layout your blanks using a marker and the tubes and allow at least 1/8 inch, more likely 1/4" on each end of the tube for blank length.
- Buy a pen blank chuck for the head stock and drill chuck for the tail stock and drill on the lathe.
- I transitioned from the end squaring/reamer to a mandrel mounted perpendicular to a belt sander to do the ends.
- Apply enough pressure with your tail stock to keep the blank(s) from spinning. Test with the lathe not spinning.
- I second the idea of using a vernier caliper to measure the hardware and then turn the blank to match.
- I will slightly round the edge of the blank on each end after I have turned to the 'finished' diameter. This helps to mislead the finger touch when feeling for diameter match.
 
Most important comment I can make - congrats to your wife!!

Secondarily, you are doing fine! This hobby is fun and frustrating all at the same time. You are staying aware of what you see and where you need to make changes to move forward. Keep at it - it will be your best friend to keep advancing.

Technically - drilling on the lathe is the better option if your equipment is all aligned and centered. Try and use a center drill to get things going, it will help. Look into collet chucks vs jawed chucks for holding things, but don't rush in. Be sure to keep watching the length of your blanks - the need to push the transmission in further is an indicator that the body length of the pen was a little off, probably caused when you trimmed. As someone else said, buy a decent set of calipers to measure the parts as machining differences can give you issues. Investigate turning options like turning between centers, turning on a shorter mandrel, changes in speed, traditional tools vs carbide, etc to find your method.

Keep at it - AND HAVE FUN DOING IT !!!

Kevin
 
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