Barrel trimmers

[Islander]

Do you need to buy different barrel trimmers for different pen kits?

 

[flexi]

Not specifically....
You can change the pilots...

 

[Islander]

Not specifically....
You can change the pilots...

Thank you.

 

[Paul-H]

Some of the more expensive trimmers come with a larger selection of pilot arburs. I think mine came with 7 but cost about £35, the one with the most is the one made by Woodpecker that comes with12 but typically of woodpeckers costs nearly £200 but it is a nice bit of kit with replaceable carbide Cutters.

 

[alpha1]

I don't use a barrel trimmer I pop the tubed blanks on the metal lathe and cut the ends square takes no time at all and they are perfectly square.

 

[Hallelujahal]

Been considering this little problem of getting barrels square, and trimmers seem a good way to go… but I’ve tried sanding on a disc sander with average results, and I some times get mixed results using barrel trimmers. As I don’t possess a metal lathe and can’t afford one it’s still a game of jeopardy as to whether my blanks will come out truly square. Would be interested in learning how other folks crack the problem?

 

[flexi]

Some of the more expensive trimmers come with a larger selection of pilot arburs. I think mine came with 7 but cost about £35, the one with the most is the one made by Woodpecker that comes with12 but typically of woodpeckers costs nearly £200 but it is a nice bit of kit with replaceable carbide Cutters.

I have the Woodpecker set, you can buy with only 3 arbours.... Its bloody sharp and needs a gentle touch or it eats your wood....
I also now have a sander with parallel pin punches and it's very quick and easy to use...

 

[alpha1]

I also have a sander and a set of pin punches and a magnetic vee block.

 

[Hallelujahal]

I also now have a sander with parallel pin punches and it's very quick and easy to use...

Mark sorry but can you explain to el thicko (me) what you do with the pin punches

 

[flexi]

I have an aluminium block which holds the pin punches square to the fence of my disc sander.... You just swap them over depending on what kit your using

 

[Curly]

I think they are referring to transfer punches. They're what I use.

 

[Hallelujahal]

Aha now I see!

 

[TVS]

I drill and tube mt blanks then turn them to round on the mandrel and just use the disk sander fence perfect results every time

 

[Islander]

Thank you everyone for your input. No metal working lathe so that’s out. Will try other suggestions

 

[Tom.1946]

Been considering this little problem of getting barrels square, and trimmers seem a good way to go… but I’ve tried sanding on a disc sander with average results, and I some times get mixed results using barrel trimmers. As I don’t possess a metal lathe and can’t afford one it’s still a game of jeopardy as to whether my blanks will come out truly square. Would be interested in learning how other folks crack the problem?

I have used a bench disc sander and haven't had any problems. You just have to make sure it's square to the bed and square to the rest. I also turn the blank..

 

[Padster]

I have a jig I made that fits on my bench top pillar drill, and is used to drill the blanks, for the tubes, then trim once tubes are fitted.
I use the Axi Universal barrel trimmer came with a few arbors but I guess only really use a couple.

Padster

 

[Antcha]

Once you have your brass tube glued in and dried, set the blank up for drilling again as you did earlier. This time instead of using a normal drill bit use a forstner bit or even a flat spade bit. Just use light touches of the drilling bit until you can just see the edge of the brass tube starting to show.

 

[Islander]

I put the blank in the pen chuck, the barrel trimmer in a jacobs chuck then gently wind the tail stock in. So far so good!

 

[akirk]

I have barrel trimmers but stopped using them as they didn't seem to work hugely well - now I simply trim most of the excess with the bandsaw and then use a bench sander to remove the last bit - works well...