• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

New to turning pens but I think

Tiny James

Full Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Posts
194
Location
Rugby
First Name
James
Yes I'm new to turning pens however I do like the idea of kitless pen phil's the one to blame with that amazing ironwood fountain pen (dam it's a fantastic looking pen) but I'm wondering on the right route to take, but also being tight on money I am a tight git BUT I do like to buy the right tools for the job.

So my Axminister lathe will accept a 2mt mandrel and a threaded chuck so with this in mind would I be best buying a long jaw chuck or a collet chuck also while I'm on the subject what would be your recommendation for a good pen turning kitless book.

I think I'm going to save up for a good tap and die set from Beaufort ink.

James
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
A collet chuck has more options on usage in my opinion and that would be my preference...
In stead of jumping straight in kit less.... Sorry Phil:face: try a couple of stopped end pens...
This is where instead of using push in tube fittings(kit parts) you use timber /acrylic/whatever for the entire length. It also means you can't use a through mandrel, but gives more flexibility to shapes you create IMG_20200606_091457.jpg
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
Really you need both types of chuck. That said though, although a collet chuck will serve you well over time as far as accuracy and convenience is concerned, if your budget only stretches to one type for the moment, a scroll chuck is the way to go. You can't hold a square blank in a collet chuck, but you can hold a round blank in a scroll chuck. Where a collet chuck scores is in its ability to grip in a perfect circle at the given diameter of the collet, of which many diameters are available. It's therefore highly accurate and extremely kind to the workpiece. The jaws of a scroll chuck will form a perfect circle, but only at one diameter, therefore most work ends up being held by the points or the waists of the jaws, which is not very accurate nor very kind to the workpiece.
 

Tiny James

Full Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Posts
194
Location
Rugby
First Name
James
So Mark do you just drill out to depth of tube and glue and then turn with one bushing and a live center at one end. I would like to know how you sent up for a closed end pen ??

James:praying:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
My feeling re kitless is different,clever and impressive,an acheivement. Moving slowly in to these pays off. Enjoy your progress.

Peter.
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Hi James,...... Sort of...
To turn the stopped end pens I do, I use a pin chuck. All this is is a piece of bar the same diameter as the pen tube, a good snug fit. This has a 1mm flat filled on the edge, I then use a 1mm panel pin on the flat. When the bar is in my collet chuck(a drill chuck will work) the blank will slide on and off, when you twist it the 1mm panel pin moves off center and locks the blank in place. So again yes a live center in the tail stock will support the blank and once shaped and turned just part off the bit with a dimple in:whistling:
You can make pin chucks of all sizes with a set of parallel pin punches and still use them for disassembly...... Or buy specific ones, I did try a grabber adjustable mandral type, but found this method quicker and a lot easier20180604_145248.jpg
It's also the method I use for my big bullet pens
 

Tiny James

Full Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Posts
194
Location
Rugby
First Name
James
very impressive Mark I think I will wait until Sant's been with a collet chuck But I've just noted that my pen mandrel is a collet type and I all so have a collet shaft for my router mmmmmmm got me thinking

James
 

Tiny James

Full Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Posts
194
Location
Rugby
First Name
James
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top