Nice job on the tutorial. I've done several, so have a few commnts to add if you dont mind
Jim,
Just wondering on the center band.
, it is required inside to provide support/stability to th Pencil insert?
I've left out the center band - I just cut the blank to length, drilled, and glued the tubes in from either end. I think the answer here is "it depends" - on the thickness/strength of the material. I've never turned a slim as thin as the tutorial shows, so what I have done has more wood in the middle.
Also, with the CB in there your barrel trimmer may not work unles you can adjust it short. I did a slimline pro 8mm pencil and the 8mm trimmer hit the CB before it could trim the blank. The solution is to make a sleave for the 7mm pilot. For a 7mm tube you should be able to move up the trimmer head far enough so it will work, but the set screw can mar the pilot.
If you turn the CB just down to the OD of the tubes, then when you press the tubes together you dont loose the the CB size from the overall length of the pen.
Please free to add any of these comments to the tutorial if you so desire.