Scuffing LOTS of Brass Tubes!

[randyrls]

I am getting ready for the PA Farm Show where I demonstrate pen making by turning and finishing a pen. I donate all the pens I make to the Freedom Pens Project. I need to prep 100 brass tubes and of course they are not scuffed. So I came up with a quick and easy way to scuff the tubes. Now I have to go down and cut and drill 100 blanks. Oh MY ACHING.....

That's one scuffed tube.

And it looks good!

So here are ALL the tubes scuffed! Took about 10-15 minutes and was very easy.

 

[jjjaworski]

Good luck with your demo and especially cutting and drilling those blanks. That part will be a bit tedious.

 

[KMCloonan]

Great Suggestion! Was the tube loose on the dowel so it would spin against the sanding disc, or was it a snug fit on the dowel and you had to turn the dowel to scuff all around the tube?

Good luck with the show!

 

[bigcountry7]

I just had to scuff up about 80, and I farmed it ot to my 7yo daughter. I had her put them on my pen mandrel to sand. It probably took her about as long. Two options same results

 

[Edgar]

Good luck with your demo. FWIW, I haven't scuffed a tube in over 8 years and have yet to have a single problem.

 

[TDahl]

great concept. Thanks for sharing

 

[randyrls]

Good luck with your demo and especially cutting and drilling those blanks. That part will be a bit tedious.

Yep! last night took two boxes and drilled all the pen blanks. Today I will glue in the blanks.

 

[randyrls]

Great Suggestion! Was the tube loose on the dowel so it would spin against the sanding disc, or was it a snug fit on the dowel and you had to turn the dowel to scuff all around the tube?

Good luck with the show!

The tube spins freely on the dowel. The trick is getting the correct angle about 45 degrees so the tube spins but the sandpaper still scuffs the tube.

 

[Woodchipper]

Good luck with your demo. FWIW, I haven't scuffed a tube in over 8 years and have yet to have a single problem.

Interesting. I go with my grandfather's saying, "Little bit good, whole lot better."

 

[its_virgil]

I'm not a pen tube scuffer. Stopped scuffing tubes 10 or more years ago. No issues at all.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

 

[bigcountry7]

For the non-scuff folks, are you using ca or epoxy?

 

[its_virgil]

For the non-scuff folks, are you using ca or epoxy?

Epoxy only in my shop. CA when demonstrsting.

 

[bigcountry7]

Epoxy only in my shop. CA when demonstrsting.

I've never used epoxy on pens. How many do you glue at one time? What product do you use?

(Sorry if this gets asked constantly)

 

[Alan Morrison]

I rarely scuff as well. I use 2-part epoxy. I havent used CA on tubes since I can't remember.

 

[Edgar]

I use 2P-10 medium CA TO glue my tubes. I first check to make sure the tube slides into the blank easily, then I fully coat the tube with CA, then insert it with a twisting and in-out motion. Then i let it set for at least 24 hours to fully cure before turning

 

[jttheclockman]

I always scuff all tubes. What does it take 5 sec with a piece of sandpaper? When you are making hand made $200 to $500 pens you try to avoid all failures that you can control and that is surely one of them. Those that do not and use CA it is just their method and not the only method. I use Epoxy and it is known here that I am a big system3 T88 fan for epoxy needs. Have used 15 minute stuff a few times also but from same company. Good luck and you too will find your own method that works for you.

 

[David350]

I use the BSI (Bob Smith Industries) 5 minute Quik-Cure that one can get off Amazon. I've used it for 4-5 years with no issues at all. I can easily get 3 pens (double barrel) glued at a time before it starts to set up...