rskelly
Member
I am just getting started, can you explain what would be needed to turn pens?
randy
randy
How to get started
- Thread starter rskelly
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widows son
Member
what you need to turn pens
I would check out the local wood turning club before buying anything. Many members who turn pens will be happy to show you how they make pens and even test drive their lathes. My shopping list changed after I decided to turn between centers instead if using a mandrel and drill my blanks on the lathe instead of the drill press. All personal preferences that are worth the time investigating IMHO.
I would check out the local wood turning club before buying anything. Many members who turn pens will be happy to show you how they make pens and even test drive their lathes. My shopping list changed after I decided to turn between centers instead if using a mandrel and drill my blanks on the lathe instead of the drill press. All personal preferences that are worth the time investigating IMHO.
Hi Randy, and welcome. I moved your thread to the Casual Conversation forum for better visibility. Sometimes I think (and this is one of those times!) that we could do a far better job of helping beginners understand the basics. Just yesterday I asked a couple of our members to start working on a "start here" type of forum and library section just to answer the kind of question you asked. Thanks for highlighting the need for that!
I am sure you will get some replies soon, but to help us understand where you're starting from, what is your experience? Are you a woodturner already or do you have workshop equipment and tools?
I am sure you will get some replies soon, but to help us understand where you're starting from, what is your experience? Are you a woodturner already or do you have workshop equipment and tools?
rskelly
Member
thank you, I attended local turning club a week or so ago, very interesting but far above my current level, I have signed up for a pen turning class at woodcrafters next week.
ed4copies
Local Chapter Manager
http://content.penturners.org/library/general_reference/Getting_started_in_pen_turning.pdf
You may find this helpful for general information---it is taken from the IAP Library.
You may find this helpful for general information---it is taken from the IAP Library.
navycop
Member
Welcome Randy. I have only been turning pens for a short time but am never afraid to post a question on here. These guys are like a whole set of pen turning encylopedias. Thanks ed4copies, I just learned alittle more by reading that link.
Mike D
Member
Welcome Randy!
Assuming you don't own a lathe yet!
I started turning pens on a drill press using a home built rig I saw in a magazine. Basically
it's a mandrill shaft with a straight sided steel rod that's threaded to screw the shaft from the mandrill into. A block of hardwood that has a 1/2" steel rod epoxied into it for the steady rest and a hole that will accept a bearing with an inner race diameter of 1/4" which will be part of a "live center". The live center is nothing more than a 1/4" "dowel center" that's inserted into the bearing inner race. The wood block is bolted or clamped to the drill press table with the Dowel Center aligned with the live center end of the mandrill shaft. When setting this up pre load your bushings and blanks onto the mandrill shaft, chuck it into the drill press align the live center (dowel center) with the shaft, lower the chuck as if your drilling until the shaft makes light contact with the live center (dowel center), lock the quill shaft, turn the drill press on and adjust your speed and turn away. The jig cost about $35.00 in materials.
I used this rig for about 3 months and once I was hooked I bought a lathe, but the drill press rig works very well. I turned about 25 pens on it and they came out fantastic, they were Christmas presents. A friend wanting to turn pens asked about getting started so I gave him the rig and he still uses it for some items. If your interested PM me and I can try and dig up the magazine article.
Assuming you don't own a lathe yet!
I started turning pens on a drill press using a home built rig I saw in a magazine. Basically
it's a mandrill shaft with a straight sided steel rod that's threaded to screw the shaft from the mandrill into. A block of hardwood that has a 1/2" steel rod epoxied into it for the steady rest and a hole that will accept a bearing with an inner race diameter of 1/4" which will be part of a "live center". The live center is nothing more than a 1/4" "dowel center" that's inserted into the bearing inner race. The wood block is bolted or clamped to the drill press table with the Dowel Center aligned with the live center end of the mandrill shaft. When setting this up pre load your bushings and blanks onto the mandrill shaft, chuck it into the drill press align the live center (dowel center) with the shaft, lower the chuck as if your drilling until the shaft makes light contact with the live center (dowel center), lock the quill shaft, turn the drill press on and adjust your speed and turn away. The jig cost about $35.00 in materials.
I used this rig for about 3 months and once I was hooked I bought a lathe, but the drill press rig works very well. I turned about 25 pens on it and they came out fantastic, they were Christmas presents. A friend wanting to turn pens asked about getting started so I gave him the rig and he still uses it for some items. If your interested PM me and I can try and dig up the magazine article.
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nava1uni
Member
Besides a lathe, you would need a mandrel, pen kits, bushings, and a roughing gouge. Taking the class at Woodcraft is a good idea. It will give you a good idea of what you need. I started by taking that class at the Woodcraft in San Carlos, CA. I can tell you one thing and that is that you don't need as much as you think. Where is Apple, CA? We have a Northern CA Chapter of IAP and have meetings every couple of months. If you need blanks I would be happy to send you some to get you started. Send me your address via PM. Welcome and happy turning, it is a lot of fun.
bensoelberg
Member
I'm putting together a collection of pictures of the things that I have found the most useful in my pen making. I don't have a ton of money so I've had to find a way to make a lot of things work the poorman's way. I'll try to post it tomorrow.
Probably what got me here was the interest in finally doing my own. You probably have to start with the equipment needed. Start looking at your local shop and see what you can get from them.
You can start with your lathe, actually as that is the basic equipment you would need. Then you have to proceed with the basic materials and extra processes you need to accomplish them.
You can start with your lathe, actually as that is the basic equipment you would need. Then you have to proceed with the basic materials and extra processes you need to accomplish them.