John Eberly
Member
First post in "Advanced" but I'm really a newcomer. I've been turning pens since last October.
I finally tried a closed end, using ironwood and chrome sedona hardware. Not too "advanced", I know, but it's at least not a total kit pen.
I used the bushing/mandrel/stepped hole approach for turning and it worked pretty well.
My one innovation was to discover that you can use the HF punches as mandrels for sanding and turning. The body tube of the Baron/Sedona/ Navigator is a reasonably close fit on one of the punches. If you slip a piece of plastic wrap (or a little bag from the pen kit parts) over the punch, you can get a jam fit with the pen body. It holds well enough for sanding and finishing, and the CA is kept off the punch so you don't glue the pen to the punch.
I was very impressed with the finished pen - it's really amazing how much the wood end helps the pen body versus the normal tube end hardware. Too bad I didn't take any pics and I already gave it away....
I finally tried a closed end, using ironwood and chrome sedona hardware. Not too "advanced", I know, but it's at least not a total kit pen.
I used the bushing/mandrel/stepped hole approach for turning and it worked pretty well.
My one innovation was to discover that you can use the HF punches as mandrels for sanding and turning. The body tube of the Baron/Sedona/ Navigator is a reasonably close fit on one of the punches. If you slip a piece of plastic wrap (or a little bag from the pen kit parts) over the punch, you can get a jam fit with the pen body. It holds well enough for sanding and finishing, and the CA is kept off the punch so you don't glue the pen to the punch.
I was very impressed with the finished pen - it's really amazing how much the wood end helps the pen body versus the normal tube end hardware. Too bad I didn't take any pics and I already gave it away....
