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Which way round...?

bluntchisel

bluntchisel

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Sep 2, 2013
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3,849
Location
Kent, UK.
First Name
Bob
Hi, Guys,

I know that it matters little but...when you mount your pen blank(s) on the lathe prior to turning, which end do you mount nearest the headstock? Since I started turning pens I've always positioned the lower blank at that end, and the clip blank against the tailstock. As I said, it makes little difference - except for one thing. Most assembly instructions are the other way round, i.e. with the clip to the left. With this in mind I've tried to mount up the blanks to face that way on the lathe, but didn't enjoy it so much so reverted back pretty quickly. Is this the onset of Alzheimer's, I ask myself. So far on-one has answered me but the day they do I shall book my place in the old folks home!

Tell me which way round you mount your blanks, guys.

Bob.
 
Grump

Grump

Grand Master
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Aug 17, 2013
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Stevenage
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Brian
Can't help ya mate, I turn one at a time between centers. I use a mandrel so rarely when I do loose the knurled knob and go back to centers again.
 
Woody

Woody

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Jul 12, 2013
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at home
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no
To be honest Bob I have never given it any thought I suppose it depends what bush I pick up first sorry mate
 
silver

silver

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Somewhere in Staffordshire,
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Eamonn.
I always turn my pens with the nib end on the head stock end, then transfer them to a wooden rack, commonly known as a or piece of architrave which is marked nib on the left hand side so I don't get them mixed up...:thumbs: or is it the other way around??????:nooidea:
 
Terry

Terry

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An exile Geordie living in Kingston upon Hull
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Terry
I always have the cap end toward the headstock and the nib toward the tailstock but only because it is to me a way of keeping the timber in line for matching the grain.With a single barrel i still have the nib at the tailstock as a result of the the way I do a 2 barrel pen !!!!
 
Grump

Grump

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Stevenage
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Brian
I line my grain by transfer my line from the outside to a dot on the inside of the tube,
Can't lose track by doing that init?
dots to middle of pen no probs always goes together the way I intended.
 
Doug

Doug

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Take a guess
Which ever way I'm holding the blanks at the time I put them on the mandrel, as long as the grain is matching I don't really think about having to have them a certain way round. :nooidea::nooidea:
 
edlea

edlea

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Aug 1, 2013
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Blackpool
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Ed
Started with nib to the tail-stock end as per most instruction sheets, but have reversed to nib to headstock, because my tiny newbie brain tells me that there is less chance of wobble at the headstock end ????:nooidea:
 
Jimjam66

Jimjam66

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Jan 27, 2013
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Basingstoke, Hampshire
Terry said:
I always have the cap end toward the headstock and the nib toward the tailstock but only because it is to me a way of keeping the timber in line for matching the grain.With a single barrel i still have the nib at the tailstock as a result of the the way I do a 2 barrel pen !!!!
Click to expand...

I do it this way too (when I use a pen mandrel). I will now change to doing it Bob's way purely so I can't be associated with Terry!

:funny::funny:
 

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Penpal

Penpal

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May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Turning half at a time I determine the pen positions, ie nib top end by the grain in line to match only after the blank is turned the first half to the round.

I have found so many times imperfections in blanks that can be overcome this way or a feature preserved.

As to heads up tails down no moment for me every pen a new challenge.

Kind regards Peter.:goesred:
 
Ralphsputin

Ralphsputin

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Dec 4, 2013
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67
Location
West Lothian
Nib in the tailstock but purely because it makes it easier for me to remember which bit is which and which end of which bit is which by taking the barrel off and pressing in the nib first. I don't suppose it really matters.
 
A

amazilia

Full Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2013
Posts
69
I have always put the nib at the headstock and cap at tailstock. I still always check my turned and finished blanks in case I change my mind about which end is which. Probably paranoia rather than alzheimers ! I blame my nib end choice on being left handed!
 
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