Le Roi Royale tube size

[sorcerertd]

My barrel trimming kit doesn't seem to have a "bit" that fits in these tubes. It sounded like this should be a 3/8 tube, but the EB page did say that a letter N drill bit would work better for it. For those that have made this pen, what did you use to trim/square the barrel ends with?

I should really just order one of Rick Harrell's barrel trimming jigs. I don't have a perfect fitting transfer punch, either, but it's a lot closer than any of my barrel trimmer bits.

 

[Charlie_W]

You can drill and turn a sleeve for your barrel trimmer to fit the tube ID. Then you can trim square.....like wise for squaring on the lathe. Make a sleeve for a smaller transfer punch.

 

[ed4copies]

Hey Todd!

A sharp barrel trimmer works GREAT!! Unfortunately to resharpen properly, all the veins on the head need to be EXACTLY the same length and the same angle. NOT EASY to achieve.

So, we suggest using the sanding disk, I have a demo video here:

Give it a try, you won't regret it.

Ed

 

[sorcerertd]

Thanks Ed! You were the next person I was going to ask about this if nobody had an answer here since you sent those kits to me. Planning to get a few more soon. I'm all out of peanut M&Ms.

I did actually make one of these a while back with a small faceplate, a piece of MDF, and peel and stick sanding discs, but the sandpaper got clogged/worn down really fast. Your method of fastening/repositioning it would certainly help with that. Maybe a coarser grit paper would help, too? I think I used 150 and it was very slow going.

Charlie, I might be too lazy for that, but might give it a try if I can find something durable enough to make it with.

 

[Dehn0045]

I turn round, mount in a chuck (4-jaw or collet) and square off with a skew (sharpened on a bit of an angle with a point).

 

[TonyL]

Thanks Ed! You were the next person I was going to ask about this if nobody had an answer here since you sent those kits to me. Planning to get a few more soon. I'm all out of peanut M&Ms.

I did actually make one of these a while back with a small faceplate, a piece of MDF, and peel and stick sanding discs, but the sandpaper got clogged/worn down really fast. Your method of fastening/repositioning it would certainly help with that. Maybe a coarser grit paper would help, too? I think I used 150 and it was very slow going.

Charlie, I might be too lazy for that, but might give it a try if I can find something durable enough to make it with.

i clean mine with this big rubber eraser-like thing: https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/bs99116/?inMed=GSTORE&dfw_tracker=18711-BS99116

 

[greenacres2]

+1 on TonyL's crepe stick--those work great and really extend the life of sandpaper.

As for alternative sized center punches...early in my pen turning i accidentally bought a set of lettered drill "blanks" instead of lettered drill bits (like a machinist might purchase to turn their own bits). I chalked it up to inexperience, but when i started barrel trimming on my sander--i found that those worthless drill blanks were able to fill in several tube sizes that were in between the 1/64" spacing of my center punches. Another source could be a cheap set of lettered drill bits (or even metric)--as long as they are straight enough. Doesn't matter is they are sharp--just make sure to mount with a little distance between the end of the bit and the sanding medium...just like a center punch in that regard.

earl

 

[keithlong]

You also make a sleeve from a pen blank, just take a 7mm tube and glue it in a blank and trim it square and just turn it to fit the inside of the larger tube you want to trim. I have some that I have been using for a long time.

 

[sorcerertd]

You also make a sleeve from a pen blank, just take a 7mm tube and glue it in a blank and trim it square and just turn it to fit the inside of the larger tube you want to trim. I have some that I have been using for a long time.

This is what I was picturing when Charlie mentioned making a sleeve since I don't have any metal working tools

i clean mine with this big rubber eraser-like thing: https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/bs99116/?inMed=GSTORE&dfw_tracker=18711-BS99116

I used one of those for my belt/disc sander. I'm probably being too impatient with the sanding and pressing too hard.