During my recent sabbatical I drilled out 13 blanks ready for slimline and streamline pens.
I used the lathe to drill them and noticed a variation with the holes both in sizes and alignments, the differences only really became apparent when gluing in the tubes. I have ended up using gorilla glue on them all so it would expand and infill any gaps.
I don't really know why I had these variations but it would go a long way in answering why I had so many failures whilst turning. The conclusions I have come up with are very slight movement of the chuck taper or user error in setting everything up prior to drilling on the lathe, I personally think it is the latter. I have a tendency to rush things and try to run before I can walk so to speak.
I have done a lot of research on the old interweb thingy and very little is out there regarding this matter, what is mentioned a lot is in regards to the morse taper on the chuck being slightly out of line and size, this apparently would cause the described problems. I did have problems with the winding bar on the tailstock (I forget the name buts it's the part you ram the Morse taper into) and Axminster sent me a new one so I doubt it is that. So it could be the taper on the drill chuck (Possible) but I have tried all sorts and should not get varying results when drilling holes and only changing the blanks whilst leaving the drill chuck alone.
So that leaves how I set the blanks up or I'm drill too fast. I have a blank holder that squares the blank so technically the drill bit would always start in the middle, so I know the blank is always centred. That now only leaves the speed I run it at, I have the lathe running at 500rpm as this is the slowest speed it will run at and have a tendency to try and drill the hole as fast as I can, I empty the drill bit a couple of times per blank but try to get the job over and done with as fast as I can. I don't like the idea of turning and advancing the tailstock to drill holes in blanks. So in that case I am or can only put the high amount of blowouts (whilst turning) down to drilling the holes too fast (500rpm) and too impatiently (again whilst drilling).
So to cure those two problems, (Remember these 2 things almost made me pack it all in) which to me were absolutely massive, I took a risk and purchased this, Amazon.co.uk The risk being that I was throwing yet more money we do not have at something that may not even be the answer. It is basically the same as the Bosch PDB40 here Amazon.co.uk well I say the same but obviously there are a few differences but those are mainly aesthetic, I have made a jig to hold the blank squarely Every time) and tried it out running between 250rpm and 285rpm, the jig is clamped to the fence. All I can say is it's a wonderful purchase, what a difference it has made, OK I have not yet tried it out a large number one after the other but I am thrilled with the purchase. This drill is the high end of the budget drill presses and with the right jig will do repeat drill cuts time after time, sadly I still have 10 streamline kits drilled via my old method such a shame I did not get this first.
Another big thing I do differently is that I now remove the corners from my blanks once the tubes are in, I made a straight forward jig that holds the blank and allows me to use a plain on them so I end up with a octagon shaped blank prior to turning, oh what a difference it makes when turning. I am sure I was told to do this by [MENTION=365]Neil Lawton[/MENTION] but forgot
So to sum up, those 2 minor changes (change minor to major in my eyes) have made such a difference, I am enthusiastic again and will keep on making pens. I no longer care about making bucket load of them a day, I will do what I can and not stress too much. Finishing is what I shall concentrate and work on, that and asking questions on here
Just wanted to let you all know where I am at and at how much it was effecting me. Also the reason I have not made a pen today is that I was too busy writing this
Cheers
Gary
I used the lathe to drill them and noticed a variation with the holes both in sizes and alignments, the differences only really became apparent when gluing in the tubes. I have ended up using gorilla glue on them all so it would expand and infill any gaps.
I don't really know why I had these variations but it would go a long way in answering why I had so many failures whilst turning. The conclusions I have come up with are very slight movement of the chuck taper or user error in setting everything up prior to drilling on the lathe, I personally think it is the latter. I have a tendency to rush things and try to run before I can walk so to speak.
I have done a lot of research on the old interweb thingy and very little is out there regarding this matter, what is mentioned a lot is in regards to the morse taper on the chuck being slightly out of line and size, this apparently would cause the described problems. I did have problems with the winding bar on the tailstock (I forget the name buts it's the part you ram the Morse taper into) and Axminster sent me a new one so I doubt it is that. So it could be the taper on the drill chuck (Possible) but I have tried all sorts and should not get varying results when drilling holes and only changing the blanks whilst leaving the drill chuck alone.
So that leaves how I set the blanks up or I'm drill too fast. I have a blank holder that squares the blank so technically the drill bit would always start in the middle, so I know the blank is always centred. That now only leaves the speed I run it at, I have the lathe running at 500rpm as this is the slowest speed it will run at and have a tendency to try and drill the hole as fast as I can, I empty the drill bit a couple of times per blank but try to get the job over and done with as fast as I can. I don't like the idea of turning and advancing the tailstock to drill holes in blanks. So in that case I am or can only put the high amount of blowouts (whilst turning) down to drilling the holes too fast (500rpm) and too impatiently (again whilst drilling).
So to cure those two problems, (Remember these 2 things almost made me pack it all in) which to me were absolutely massive, I took a risk and purchased this, Amazon.co.uk The risk being that I was throwing yet more money we do not have at something that may not even be the answer. It is basically the same as the Bosch PDB40 here Amazon.co.uk well I say the same but obviously there are a few differences but those are mainly aesthetic, I have made a jig to hold the blank squarely Every time) and tried it out running between 250rpm and 285rpm, the jig is clamped to the fence. All I can say is it's a wonderful purchase, what a difference it has made, OK I have not yet tried it out a large number one after the other but I am thrilled with the purchase. This drill is the high end of the budget drill presses and with the right jig will do repeat drill cuts time after time, sadly I still have 10 streamline kits drilled via my old method such a shame I did not get this first.
Another big thing I do differently is that I now remove the corners from my blanks once the tubes are in, I made a straight forward jig that holds the blank and allows me to use a plain on them so I end up with a octagon shaped blank prior to turning, oh what a difference it makes when turning. I am sure I was told to do this by [MENTION=365]Neil Lawton[/MENTION] but forgot
So to sum up, those 2 minor changes (change minor to major in my eyes) have made such a difference, I am enthusiastic again and will keep on making pens. I no longer care about making bucket load of them a day, I will do what I can and not stress too much. Finishing is what I shall concentrate and work on, that and asking questions on here
Just wanted to let you all know where I am at and at how much it was effecting me. Also the reason I have not made a pen today is that I was too busy writing this
Cheers
Gary
) so understand the difference this can make - drilling in a vice also not suggested 
