Why Now???

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bking0217

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Messages
316
Location
Apopka, FL
Earlier today I was watching Woodturning Workshop (had it in my DVR) when I decided to ask my 8-year-old daughter if she wanted to try making a pen. She lit up with excitement. After the show was over, We went to where I keep my supplies and I let her choose a blank. Her choice really surprised me. I have everything from cocobolo to Bethlehem Olivewood and she chose a plain light-blue piece of PVC. I figured she would've gone for something a little fancier. Anyway, I did all the drilling and squared the blanks, and mounted them on the mandrel. I figured the Pen Pro would be the best tool to use on the PVC. I had he put her hand over mine and proceeded to put the tool to the blank. It seemed like it grabbed and wouldn't cut for the life of me. I had her step back and I backed off the tailstock. The dang mandrel had broken at the morse taper! Now I can't tell who's more disappointed, her or me.
 
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Brian,
Sorry to see this post. I have had a on/off relationship with this stuff, believe me. I have roughed it with everything from a skew, gouge to a scraper. I even like using a large bowl gouge. I get catches pretty much all the time. I end up letting the metal lathe take care of it once its round. Large skews and roughing gouges I have found to be the best-sharp ones too. I try to ease the cutting, since the shards wrap all over the place.
 
Just get another mandrel and start over. Let her use a roughing gouge, it will be much safer for her and really let her do the work. Show her how to ride the bevel. You can still have a good time.
 
I will pick up another mandrel within the next couple of days, when I can get to Woodcraft. I'll have her pick out a WOOD blank and we'll try again. She's still pretty bummed about yesterday so I'm sure when gets her pen done she'll treasure it.
 
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