How should I spend my Christmas gift?

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Scooley01

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Nov 28, 2010
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College Station, Texas
My parents are excited that I've been selling pens and wanted to help me get a little further along, business-wise, so they gave me $200 for Christmas with the stipulation that it be used only for my business stuff.

So my question to the IAP is what should I get? I could get a boatload of supplies so that I'd be able to build up a stock of pens...or I could get a lathe chuck so that I could do bottle stoppers/other things...or I could get rid of my crappy drill press and replace it with something more reliable...

I'm thinking I'd like some carbide tipped tools...
 
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Without knowing what you already have this is not an easy task lol. My suggestion would be a decent tool sharpening setup and practice that aspect of the "trade" that would be a lifetime investment and stand you in good stead for the future :). Then as you sell more pens and get some return invest in better chisels ,such as carbide tipped etc, they still need sharpening unless you can get throwaway tips . Your first suggestion of a decent chuck will also expand your horizons and versatility , sometimes ,just sometimes a break from pens is not a bad way to relax and expand hehe, I have been making pens for about 3 years now ,and recently started making the 12" crushgrinder pepper grinders , a lot more time consuming than pens I might say ,but a professional chef bought my first one and came back a week later for 3 more as gifts .and more to come in the future ,so you can move out of your comfort zone at times and enjoy it ! hehe cheers ~ John
 
Hello Steven: Got to thinking; you may be able to get most if not all of the things you mentioned with your $200.00.Drill press & Chuck look into craiglist in your area I've been able to find such items really cheap be patient and these will come up, and never pay what they ask for, if they ask for $50. make an offer most people will take the offer.Start thinking bussiness like and I'm sure you'll do just fine...
Watch this video and you'll be able to make your own carbide tipped tools really cheap.Oh, and this guy has a whole bunch of videos that will help you with your bussiness and turning,anyways good luck and stay one step ahead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0hPl0dLDrM
Merry Christmas
Be Bless
 
Since you mentioned a chuck AND a drill press.... I'd recommend the chuck and a mt2 drill adapter.

You can drill pen stuff on the lathe then AND have the chuck for other stuff too.
 
I recently acquired a scroll chuck and love it so far. It's a PSI utility chuck and I actually traded some stuff for it and got it from an IAP member. I would definitely recommend it. An MT2 jacobs chuck would be nice for you as well.
 
Drilling on the lathe would be nice...I still have a hand drill to trim the ends...could I use the PSI Utility Chuck (The 89.99 one) for that? What else would I need?

Drilling on the lathe is automatically centered, correct?
 
For best precision -- Collet chuck PSI has one as does the Beall version. ER 32 collets give best consistency and flexibility 800watt at e-bay is a good source of collets.

for best flexibility but lower precision a scroll chuck. For penturning with a scroll chuck you will want pin jaws. (the 25mm jaws will also work but not as well). Take a look at NOVA for good quality and long term flexibility of jaw interchangibility. (Yes I have several chucks including PSI and Nova is probably best value). The tommy bar chucks cost less but have good functionability.

Drill chuck on a MT taper is very very handy. Get one with a tapped taper so you can usse a draw bar to keep it in the headstock.
 
If you had to pick one type of saw to have in your shop, what would it be? I'm starting to get some pieces of wood that I have to cut to blank size, and I'm not sure what would be best for that...
 
The kids gave me a $20.00 gift certificate at Woodcrafts. Now I can get that set of micro mess that is sorely needed. I want one set for wet and the other for dry.
Which reminds me. Either my eyesight is getting very poor or it is very hard to distinguish the colors/grits. I guess if I wash them the color might come back out. I usually keep them in order in a small tray but I dropped the tray. In this day and age I drop everything I touch. And when it hits the floor do you think it would roll out into the center of the room? Noooooooooo, it would rather seek refuse under the counter necessitating my getting down on my already sore knees to retrieve the object.
 
#1 saw for me is the band saw -- especially with lathe work.

Small chain saw is 2nd

Table saw or chop box 3rd/4th

Scroll saw is 5th (but I find I use it quite a bit for smaller stuff that I do not want fingers and bandsaw associated with)

Minimum space and max application (speed and volume of work not in the discussion) would be the scroll saw and a wide selection of blades.
 
Scooley01 said:
If you had to pick one type of saw to have in your shop, what would it be? I'm starting to get some pieces of wood that I have to cut to blank size, and I'm not sure what would be best for that...
Click to expand...

If you're shooting for making alot of pens only and the wood you have is already cut fairly small, I'd say a bandsaw. But it can be a toss up between a band saw and a table saw. If you're trying to cut large boards into blanks, it can get pretty time consuming on a band saw...
 
Well, if you are looking to play around with your lathe, or shop in general, you've gotten several valid suggestions so far. If your business is penmaking, and you want to move it forward at this point, it sounds to me like you need to make some more pens. If you can make a pen now, all the rest of the ideas may make it easier, faster, more intricate, but they aren't going to improve your actual penmaking business much if at all. Some new kits, maybe something new, like a rollerball or fountain pen if you haven't done those may open some new doors for you. If you can sell some pens it would enable you to buy those other things down the road.
 
Scooley01 said:
with the stipulation that it be used only for my business stuff...
Click to expand...

I would take the stipulation to heart. What good are all the tools, gadgets and gizmos if you can not effort the components to make your product. Use the money to buy supplies to make your products. As you sell an item, put a set amount or percentage away towards the purchase of equipment you would like to add to your shop. Sounds like the folks are trying to encourage your endeavour. Sit down with them and tell them which ways your thoughts and ideas are taking you and ask for their input. This way they will know you appreciate their input as much as their help.


That is my two cents which is two cents more than you paid for it. :smile:
 
I think that's great advice, MLK...it makes more sense to get materials and kits at this point than to spend the whole $200 on tools. It'll give me a chance to get some other types of items like letter openers and whatnot that I can put out at shows when I start going to them!
 
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