jttheclockman
Member
TMPI, what is that you ask. Well today I discovered I have this dreaded disease. No I am not going to die from it but it is an annoying problem. It is "TOO MANY PEN IDEAS" Today I was in the shop for a few hours finally getting to work on some of the many pen blanks I have started on my work bench. I mentioned some time ago right after I got done with my house this past summer I started on a series of new pens that I wanted to make and would show them here as a package like I did my last group. I still plan on this. It will be some time yet but those are the plans. Anyway the first blank I picked up I went and trimmed down to square and started drilling for tube. Now this is a very complicated segmented blank and a fragile one to say the least. One of those butt clenchers. Well did not get far and it broke apart. Now I see where the problem is and it lies with drilling on the lathe. No matter how hard you try to keep that drill chuck steady to start holes it does chatter. Tried step drilling but as soon as you get to the bigger bits it is curtains. Now the many years I have been here I have seen the discussions on things that can be done to try to avoid this such as CA it, wrap in gauze and CA, Popsicle sticks, and others. But the mind went into overdrive and I may have come up with a method that just may work and will explain if I can pull it off and it proves to have merit. Actually a simple solution.
Then I looked at other blanks and some are just beautiful wooden blanks that I want to use that I have never used before so anxious to see how they turn out. Then there are some blanks that have never been seen or tried here before. There are some segmented ones that maybe a new technique or at least for me it is. Not sure what it will look like turned yet. All in all there is about 20 to 25 pens I have in mind. Now just while I was down there for a couple hours I actually had about another 6 or 7 new ideas pop in my head. Again material never before seen here. Not sure why I never thought of some of these before but could look real cool if I can pull them off. Now yes this is a tease but also just to let you know I am back in the shop and working on some interesting pens that if proven to be able to do I think you will all like. Will say also they will probably start showing up by the end of Feb or early March. Then I will need to shift my thoughts back to my house and get ready for interior work done this year.
Then I looked at other blanks and some are just beautiful wooden blanks that I want to use that I have never used before so anxious to see how they turn out. Then there are some blanks that have never been seen or tried here before. There are some segmented ones that maybe a new technique or at least for me it is. Not sure what it will look like turned yet. All in all there is about 20 to 25 pens I have in mind. Now just while I was down there for a couple hours I actually had about another 6 or 7 new ideas pop in my head. Again material never before seen here. Not sure why I never thought of some of these before but could look real cool if I can pull them off. Now yes this is a tease but also just to let you know I am back in the shop and working on some interesting pens that if proven to be able to do I think you will all like. Will say also they will probably start showing up by the end of Feb or early March. Then I will need to shift my thoughts back to my house and get ready for interior work done this year.