Just starting out.

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Mossy

Mossy

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Joined
Feb 22, 2011
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136
Location
Scotland
Hi, Just starting out into the world of pen making,and was wondering what is the basic type of equipment required. I already have a wood turning lathe. :tongue:
 
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This is a copy and paste from a post I made on another site, modified slightly.

Must have machines are:
- A VS lathe (ideally MT2/1"-8NC) with tools (minimum a gouge and skew) to make things round ($100-$5000+)
- A bench grinder to sharpen your lathe tools ($50-$300)
- A means of drilling blanks, either on the lathe or off. ($50-$500+)
- A means of cutting blanks, ideally a band saw. ($100-$3000+)
- A means of squaring the ends of blanks, a hand held drill with an end mill or disk sander set up. ($50-$200+).
- An adjustable pen madrel ($10-$30) or 60° live and dead centers ($30-$100+)
- A assembly vise or clamp. ($20-$100)
- Finishing supplies ($5-$25)
- Pen kit and blank. ($3-$100)
- Safety shield or glasses and a dust mask or respirator. ($5-$200)

Andrew
 
I started with a borrowed lathe and tools and added things as I sold pens. You don't have to have much to start, you can get better tools after you find out if you enjoy pen making.

This is not a criticism, just a different opinion. A few of the things I used to start:


Andrew_K99 said:
This is a copy and paste from a post I made on another site, modified slightly.

Must have machines are:
- A VS lathe (ideally MT2/1"-8NC) with tools (minimum a gouge and skew) to make things round ($100-$5000+)
Borrowed $0
- A bench grinder to sharpen your lathe tools ($50-$300)
A whetstone $5
- A means of drilling blanks, either on the lathe or off. ($50-$500+)
Jacobs chuck and a scroll chuck $125
119 Titanium coated drill bit set $49
- A means of cutting blanks, ideally a band saw. ($100-$3000+)
Stanley miter box+saw $15
- A means of squaring the ends of blanks, a hand held drill with an end mill or disk sander set up. ($50-$200+).
A drill I had, end mill $15
- An adjustable pen madrel ($10-$30) or 60° live and dead centers ($30-$100+)
Plain mandrel $15 You will want a 60 degree live center soon $25
- A assembly vise or clamp. ($20-$100)
Squeeze clamp $5
- Finishing supplies ($5-$25)
Acetone and Plexiglas $6 CA glue is good, too - use to glue and finish $6
- Pen kit and blank. ($3-$100)
Start with cigar pens, not slims - easier and nicer $6
- Safety shield or glasses and a dust mask or respirator. ($5-$200)
Safety shield $20

Andrew
Click to expand...
 
Here are my thoughts on the list and they are my thoughts only. Not meant to clriticize but to offer some alternatives.

Andrew_K99 said:
Must have machines are:
- A VS lathe (ideally MT2/1"-8NC) with tools (minimum a gouge and skew) to make things round ($100-$5000+)
Although a lathe is a requirement variable speed is not. Belt changing, while somewhat annoying, is not a deterrant.
- A bench grinder to sharpen your lathe tools ($50-$300)
Tools can be sharpened on a disk or belt sander which may already be part of the shop. Sharpening can also be done on sandpaper taped to a really flat surface. That's how I sharpened when I started. I learned from Russ Fairfield's website or maybe one of his videos.
- A means of drilling blanks, either on the lathe or off.
Drillling on the lathe works fine and only a jacob's chuck is needed to hold the bit and some way to hold the blank. ($50-$500+)
- A means of cutting blanks, ideally a band saw.($100-$3000+)
I cut blanks for over a year using a miter saw and miter box which I already had. Other saws are handy when we stop buying blanks and start cutting our own from larger stock.
- A means of squaring the ends of blanks, a hand held drill with an end mill or disk sander set up. ($50-$200+).
Agree...one pen mill with shims for the different size tubes.
- An adjustable pen madrel ($10-$30) or 60° live and dead centers ($30-$100+) A 60 degree live center is really important so it matches the 60 degree dimple in the end of the mandrel. Stock live centers do not usually fit the mandrel properly.
- A assembly vise or clamp. ($20-$100)
Agree...hand clamps can be used. Also, homemade rams for the lathe can be made and the lathe and its tailstock ram can be used. I use these when I travel and teach so I don't have to carry a pen press.
- Finishing supplies ($5-$25)
- Pen kit and blank. ($3-$100)
- Safety shield or glasses and a dust mask or respirator. ($5-$200)
Nothing to add on these last 3.
Andrew
Click to expand...
Do a good turn daily!
Don
 
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The biggest and the badest is not always the best. If you are starting out you get what is in your budget. Your best tool is your want and ability to do something. You can make do with anything you can get; it all comes down to the want to do it. Beg and borrow. Just about any tool can be made without much cost. For example a $2.00 hardened steel file and a visit to someone that has a grinder will give you to a two ended cutting tool. Good luck. Been there just takes time.
 
Mossy. I really like the free dvd that Penn State Industries sends out. It is what got me started when I was the very same place as you back in October 2010:biggrin:
 
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