OldGrumpy
Member
Have it on good authority that Santa is being me a Woodchuck Pen Pro for Christmas. Since I know nothing about this tool I would welcome suggestions as to how to best benefit from using it, care of it, etc.
WoodChuck Pen Pro
- Thread starter OldGrumpy
- Start date
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GoodTurns
Member
if you should drop it, do not try to break it's fall with your foot! It will win.
I love mine. make sure you keep a couple of spare cutter heads, they last pretty well (depending on the material you are turning), but it sucks to run out! I have done nothing special to care for mine and it looks new a year or so later. It works like a really sharp scraper, very precise, but can be aggressive if you are not careful. Pay attention to the distance between the tool rest and material, leverage is one of those immutable laws and it will catch and potentially launch if you use a light hand! Your tool rest will likely be lower than normal due to the thickness of the tool at the head.
chuck up a couple of junk pieces and practice...
I love mine. make sure you keep a couple of spare cutter heads, they last pretty well (depending on the material you are turning), but it sucks to run out! I have done nothing special to care for mine and it looks new a year or so later. It works like a really sharp scraper, very precise, but can be aggressive if you are not careful. Pay attention to the distance between the tool rest and material, leverage is one of those immutable laws and it will catch and potentially launch if you use a light hand! Your tool rest will likely be lower than normal due to the thickness of the tool at the head.
chuck up a couple of junk pieces and practice...
I had a funny thing happen.....I was so excited to finally get one,I just couldn't wait to try it.I got the handle sized and glued on,put in a square blank ready to turn it round,flipped the switch and started..........doing almost nothing. I just couldn't get it to cut good,it was pretty rough going,so I tried another softer wood.Same thing!
Then I tried an even softer piece,same.Boy,was bummed! So I get out my freshly sharpened gouge and it wouldn't even do anything.
Then I felt pretty stupid...the weekend before I did a good cleaning job on the Delta lathe and was cleaning around the forward/reverse switch and left it in reverse.
Flipped it in forward,MAN does this thing eat wood!
So now my grinder is gathering cobwebs.I sure love the Woodchuck Pro!
Steve
Then I tried an even softer piece,same.Boy,was bummed! So I get out my freshly sharpened gouge and it wouldn't even do anything.
Then I felt pretty stupid...the weekend before I did a good cleaning job on the Delta lathe and was cleaning around the forward/reverse switch and left it in reverse.
Flipped it in forward,MAN does this thing eat wood!
So now my grinder is gathering cobwebs.I sure love the Woodchuck Pro!
Steve
Canadian_Kid
Member
I was thinking about getting one but I was also considering just stepping up to their larger one (unitool). I would love some feed back from anyone who has used the Unitool.
Thanks. Don.
Thanks. Don.
butchf18a
Member
It took how many attempts before you realized your lathe was running in reverse?
SDB777
Member
nava1uni
Member
Makes lots of shavings. Do not attempt to wipe off the gunk that accumulates with your finger as your finger will lose. DAMHIKT
ctubbs
Member
Do not grab the tool by the business end. I have the bowl Pro which is the larger one. It works great for pens also but will do larger turnings. Love mine.
Charles
Charles
chriselle
Member
Love mine...BUT the cutters dull really fast with ebonite. What is it about ebonite??