Rockler Pen Press/Drilling Jig

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It has more control than the old lever style pen press as you turn the wheel to set the parts. That said, it also takes much longer. I use an arbor press for most of my pressing.
 
I have been using one for the past six months or so. While I like it, is has some limitations. I find that it can be rather difficult to press some kits. It actually takes some real mussle to get a good seating of some components and at least as much to uncrank the press. I was in line to get a pen press from Paul OKC before he took his leave for a while. I will be getting an arbor press to do the majority of the kits I build.

Jim Smith
 
I have one that I use as a drilling jig but have never tried it as a pen press. It is the best drilling jig I have found.
Dick
 
After crashing several expensive blanks, about a year and a half ago I got one and use it as a drilling jig - I wasn't impressed with the press portion as it was cumbersome and couldn't beat what I currently use. It has paid for itself several times over - I think in the past year and a half I've only screwed up drilling two blanks, and that was due to my own carelessness vs. the tool's fault.
 
First, I've never used this one. I've seen it in Rockler and it looks well built. I have one of Paul H's drilling jig and PSI's new spring loaded press. I love them both.

One thing that jumps out at me about the Rockler one is the sacrificial blank to prevent blowouts. I hate it. It MUST be a particular size, and you can't move it a bit to get a new flat spot. When you drill through on your first blank (especially if it's a larger bit), your sacrificial blank is shot and if you don't replace it you'll blow the next blank out. You better cut a few hundred of those sacrificial blanks out. It's a "one and done" design.

With Paul's, I just cut several pieces of scrap plywood the correct width for his design, didn't care as much about the length (around a foot is OK) and with each new blank drilled, I just move the plywood to a new flat spot. Zero blowouts, with very little hassle. When I cut up the one side of my plywood (20-30 blanks worth) I just turn it over and have a new flat surface. Now, if you go all the way through your sacrificial plywood, you have another problem, but I go slow, cleanout often, and can see the color change and texture change easily enough.

That Rockler sacrificial blank deal would be a non-starter for me. And for those not fortunate enough to get one of Paul's, find one where you can put a piece of wood you can move underneath it. Someone wasn't thinking when they came up with that design. Or never tested it.

Dale
 
I've got one and quite like it. Like Jim says, though, using it as a press takes a bit of effort on the larger pens. It does, however, give a lot more control when pressing the pieces together. As a centering vise, I like it much better than the others I've tried.
 
I have had some problems with loose jaws. There is a thread some where that shows a fix. I cannot find it. On mine the tapped holes were not tapped deep enough. I re-tapped and it helped.
 
I bought one to use for drilling , works fine for that purpose . Never tired to use it for a press , I'm happy with my small hand clamp . Now that I started drilling on the lathe I haven't used the Rockler press .
 
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