I use the lathe for assembly. I bought the SawDust Bros pen press adapters, and never looked back. They aren't special. Here they are (but sometimes available from other sources):
Buy the Lathe Pen Press Adapters #2 MT for sale online from Woodcraft. Visit us to order online or find your local Woodcraft store today!
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The primary reason I like them is they are small and easy to store. Some dedicated pen presses may be better (and many also support disassembly), but they cost a lot more and take up space in the shop.
You could make or improvise your own set in a couple minutes to save a few dollars. Since you are pressing, not turning, the fit does not have to be very good. Anything that is soft (won't damage the tapers) with a cupped face (countersink?) should work. I was lazy and bought them.
ADVICE FOR PEN PRESSES THAT CRANK IN, such as assembly on the lathe or that new Rockler pen press (yuck! overpriced!):
- Avoid the small hole side for pen tips.
- Many crank-in pen presses have small holes on one side to center pen tips during assembly. That includes this new Rockler pen press and the SawDust Bros pen press that I use. The problem is that the hold can leave a circular dent or other damage to the tip. Instead, I center the pen tips in the slightly cupped face on the non-hole side. It works as well as the side with the hole, but without risking damage to the tip.
- Turn the crank very carefully and slowly. Make sure the parts are well aligned and stay aligned as you SLOWLY press the part in place.
- I use my hands and fingers to help the part get a good, straight start and keep it aligned as it goes in. I work very slowly. If anything is even slightly misaligned or not straight, I stop and fix the problem. At the start you can wiggle the parts to keep them going straight. Pay attention to catch if it starts to misalign.
- By the time you reach the point where you cannot pull the part out with your fingers, you must be very very sure it is aligned and going in straight.
- It is much easier to press in than press out. Take your time. Assembly is so quick anyway, thus patience and care are virtues here.