First Pen Turning attempt

[Kardav]

Hi Mark, so long as you got out of it what you expected to get out of it, then it was all worth while, and you learned a few lesson on the way. Nothing wrong with the pen or the finish in the end. Well done mate.

 

[bluntchisel]

Very good, Mark!!! I like that you had all the processes in place to make the pen. There ain't no stopping you now!
PS. It may already be mentioned but that break-out you had might be caused by not making sure that the CA was spread evenly along the tube - if its "floating" there will be no support against the chisel, and the loose bit will fly off! But you knew that already, right?

Bob.

 

[Clothahump]

Very good, Mark!!! I like that you had all the processes in place to make the pen. There ain't no stopping you now!
PS. It may already be mentioned but that break-out you had might be caused by not making sure that the CA was spread evenly along the tube - if its "floating" there will be no support against the chisel, and the loose bit will fly off! But you knew that already, right?

Bob.

Hi Bob

Let me know if this is correct I bob a small amount of CA in the blank and the spread two thin lines din the insert pushed it in with a rotation motion ?
Is this the correct way to go.

Thanks Mark

 

[Twister]

Hi Mark

there are so many answers to the glue up
was the tube tight before u glued it...as snug as possible i recommend
if using ca ...use the medium and not thin

Steve

 

[GeordieB]

Well done Mark thats a cracking first pen I,m yet to make 1 but hope its as good as yours

 

[bluntchisel]

Hi, Mark,

This is how I do it. Slide tube onto nail, gently holding the overhanging end. Squeeze your medium CA all around the tube from end to end, using your fingertips to twist the tube at the same time. It helps if you use the tip of the glue nozzle as a "spreader". A thing to note - in cold workshops glue goes a bit thicker and becomes harder to squirt so you may have to put a bit more on. Hope the piccy helps.

Bob.

 

[Twister]

I have a bit of tapered delron that i push in tube
rotate and insert

or if i cant find it in the mess i use a sharpie

Steve

 

[Penpal]

Mark, My VL100 is about the same vintage as yours and I fitted a three phase motor and a VFD Controller ran the drive belt out the head stock to allow the motor to be on the bench. Made a steel welded bench and although not needed but sought after by me I sit at a draughtsmans chair and turn sitting down. Can turn easily and well arranging my drill press adjacent so I swivel around to complete the pen. Also I many many years ago chose to be happy with comfort using the VL100. My lathe has a 1 inch ten thread head stock shaft. I will look up some pics of my old set up and now set up with the two lathes and send them in a pm to you. I have met with the makers of Vicmarc many times and Timberbits is the principal Dealer for Vicmarc in Australia and a personal friend. as a bare lathe and fitted that with a new motor ( first new motor ever and an Inverter speed controller again 240 to 415 using a 3/4 hp on the 100 and a 2 hp on the 150.

Last year as a treat for me I bought a VL150 and enjoy that as well. Yesterday I was told I had the big C by my Doc and specialist so I figured to have fun for quite a while yet at 80 yrs.

Kind regards Peter.

 

[turnaround360]

Well done mate.

 

[chas_41_uk]

I love the way you show the fails on the way to the finished item, well done Mark
And the finished item looks fine from here

 

[Jim]

Good to see that you battled on Mark, the final pen is very good considering it is your first finished one .. Regarding the CA, there are many ways that people do this, i just put the CA in the blank turning it then put the tube in twisting it pull it back out and finally place the tube in the other end of the blank ..

 

[silver]

Excelent start Mark, and nice looking pen as well to boot.

I agree with Bob, I don't believe it was because you took too much of its down to the gluing technique.

As said, use medium CA or better use epoxy, takes a little longer to set but in my opinion a far better option than CA.
Only my opinion tho.:wink:

I use the little wooden stirring sticks ( the ones that the famous coffee shop uses to stir your coffee) to put adhesive inside the blank.

Only the ones that I have used to stir my coffee you must understand tho..

Look forward to the next stage..

 

[Les ELm]

Well done for you first go at it.

Les

 

[Lons]

Thanks for posting Mark, great to see your work in progress warts and all. We've all been there, just wait until you try a closed end!
make sure you keep your first pen, nothing wrong with it.

 

[paulm]

Thats a fantastic job Mark, good foresight to make the vice jaws and textbook from there on with perhaps a bit of over exuberance and then a bit cautious but you learned and that shows right through the pictures and the finished pen is nothing to be sneered at and I know someone that lives near to me that sells pens that isn't up to that standard.

 

[brody2123]

A cracking start Mark. This is a great result. Pen turning can be a strange mistress at times. But, you've gone through the process and done it well. Nice one