12 Cent Stick Pen and Refrigerator Holder

[@monophoto1]

Mike Great video. These are fun, quick projects, and make great gifts for casual acquaintances such as the barista in the coffee shop where you hang out with retired friends. I have a slightly different approach. First, after drilling the hole with the long bit, I flip the Jacobs chuck over to the headstock and use the drill bit as a mandrel while turning the body of the pen. I keep the tail stock in place to support the end of the pen body. That approach provides a bit more support and prevents the thin spindle from wobbling. My experience is similar to yours - if I use a 5/32" bit, the hole can end up slightly too large (requiring the use of teflon tape to hold the insert in place). So I use a 9/64" bit to drill the hole, and then, after the pen has been completed, I enlarge the hole using a 5/32" but only deep enough to receive the plastic end of the insert. I also drill a breather hole in the side of the body. I don't know if this is necessary, but the fact that it's there means that its absolutely impossible for a vacuum to form inside the finished pen that would restrict ink flow. I use a #65 wire bit in a hand-held pin chuck to drill the hole. Finally, I agree with you about CA - its glue, not a finish! I use a shop-made lacquer-tung oil friction polish on my pens (equal quantities of a brushing lacquer, lacquer thinner, and tung oil).

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for those alternatives. I wanted to try the mandrel approach but my drill bits were way too long and I did not want to go to the trouble of making a dedicated mandrel and bushing.

[@paintilludrop]

Thanks for a newbie project..taking to my woodshop class.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Have fun!

[@cobberpete1]

I made your Fridge magnets last month and will be making the pen / magnet this next week. Big thanks Mike Simple gifts make a big impression.

[@cobberpete1]

Now made the full pack of 10, the family love them :)

[@jackmaravola2496]

Another nice wood turning project Mike...! Cheap, easy and pleasing...! Thank you for your time and effort Mike, I like...! May you and your loved ones have a great safe day....!

[@mamabearssheshedtracykeato6941]

That a fantastic idea Mike! I'll keep watching, and I'll keep sharing!

[@cathyjanehale]

I Love this! Great little gifts for anyone!

[@daleparrott5265]

Thanks for the great tip on the Teflon tape. Much better than trying to build up a layer of CA inside the tube.

[@diydarkmatter]

i like making stick pens . there alot of fun .

[@wolfgangschindler1408]

Hi Mike, inspired by your awesome idea and video I added a clothes peg for postings to the holder and a bottle opener to the end of the pen. So I have a three in one refrigerator tool. :-)

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Great idea!

[@johnnyspropshop]

Mike adding this to my must make list. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Nice to have projects to stack up so we don't wonder what we are going to do next!

[@ronaldainaire7086]

Nice! Will have to try a couple. Wife always looking for a pen in the kitchen. Ron

[@BeyondF1]

Love these, great idea on the fridge magnet, brings them up to the next level.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for that comment, Phil.

[@lunaticfringe6173]

Howdy Mike, Hope your doing well all things considered. I'm a recent fan of your work; i'm surprised on how few well detailed lathe tutorials I could find, so your channel has been invaluable to my learning. I usually watch tutorials at an accelerated speed so i can watch them more than once quickly, to help with that I usually turn on closed captioning, and use the auto generated stuff; I thought you might find it amusing to know that the sound your lathe makes causes the auto captions to say [Laughter] or [Applause]. Your lathe laughs with you and applauds your work good sir!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Too funny. I usually watch videos at 125% speed.

[@garyjohnson9297]

A great idea for craft shows and farmers markets you could also use contrasting wood disks, gem stone cabochons and coins for inlays

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Good ides.

[@MrSteveieM]

Great project 👍

[@rmacbow]

Thanks, new to turning. Love cheap products.

[@MikeWaldt]

Great project Mike...and useful too :) Cheers Mike

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Mike. And you could stick it on your lathe!

[@czellner5894]

Thanks Mike. Those are handy little pen holders and would be great stocking stuffers from Santa. Hahaha yeah I do tend to think about Christmas gifts in the middle of summer. I've always enjoyed your work buddy. Take care

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I appreciate that, Charlie.

[@sultanofsawdust7045]

Thanks for the good tips, but more importantly, thanks for not editing out mistakes and for pointing out "goofs." They help beginning turners like me.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I appreciate your feedback. Safe tuirning, my friend.

[@leksey7870]

Super! I would like to do for yourself. Very convenient.

[@joescarborough1]

Once a week I threaten to make a couple pencil holders in this style (I don't use pens very often-rarely). For 35 years I had a pencil behind my ear, but since I retired I got out of that habit. It's raining today so maybe I'll use this as a motivational video. Thanks, Mike. All the best, -- Joe

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Joseph. What tip to you have for keeping a pencil from sliding thru? Perhaps this will work better on a lathe to hold a pencil than taping a rare earth magnet to it.

[@joescarborough1]

First I have to say that I use standard round or hexagonal cedar pencils. Those fit a 19/64" hole with very little tolerance so I would consider a 5/16" inch hole to offer more ease of insertion and retrieval. Any o-ring with a 1/4" internal dimension (i.d.) will fit snugly over a standard pencil. Danco #78 o-rings (Home Depot)have the necessary i.d. and a 7/16" o.d., so even if the hole got wallered out (southern American for reamed) to 3/8", the o-ring will prevent the pencil from falling through. I didn't have a #78 in stock so I used a Delta/Peerless neoprene faucet seat (available individually without springs from a plumbing supply or a real hardware store). Both can be adjusted easily up or down to ones liking. Alternatives are a small pinhead bead of medium CA, a couple wraps of 20 ga. copper wire, or a couple wraps of any sort of tape. The neoprene faucet seat is a secure and comfortable solution for me. Office supply stores sell pencil grips in a dazzling array of colors and shapes which should work equally as well. I didn't have any of those either. 1/4" i.d. plastic or rubber tubing could be cut into appropriate lengths. If a person were so inclined ,a bead, appropriately dimensioned, could be turned to fit the circumstances. On a different note, given your age and experience, you can call me Joe. :- ) Cheers, -- Joe

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Joseph! I knew you would have some great ideas. I think I will make a holder for my lathe. Now that I think about it, a simple bead of hot glue should do the trick on the pencil if I can't find an O ring around my shop.

[@joescarborough1]

That should work admirably. Put it a couple fingers or so down from the eraser ferrule so you've got something to grab. All the best, -- Joe

[@canaldoportugues10]

Show parabéns, 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 👌👍🤝

[@williamdodds6104]

Have you ever made a base for one of these pens to put on a desk?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

No, but did get one in a gift exchange.

[@garyjohnson9297]

I like how you describe what cut you are making the tool you are using and how to use it And not put up a music track and Watch Me Turn This

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks. I never liked the others either.

[@trevorhuntley8093]

Mike I like the idea of the holder for the fridge, i use the very tip of a pair of wire cutters to nip the shank of the refill just under the flange on either side that leaves a small barb that holds in the hole if it as become too loose a fit.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for that great tip Trevor! I like the new heart icon so I can share the love.

[@alanmullock381]

Great idea Mike, Boo-Boos-way of life for me! Good way to use up scraps😆😆😆😆

[@E-Glide]

Mike, I drill the hole like Cap'n Eddie showed , can you believe it, 8 years ago! Results are about the same and it's much quicker/easier for me when making the pens in large batches.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I did try it that way and it works. It does require a Jacobs chuck with a draw br for sure! Nice to have options.

[@timv.4938]

Ill give this a try look like a good give away!!!! Thanks for the idea :)

[@winterwizard3885]

UHG! I use those plastic pen cases to make jig bodies for squid fishing. I don't think I've saved any of the pen inserts. I will from now on. Thanks for the video!!

[@AsWoodTurns]

I used to make a lot of these pens. I don't know how many times my drill bit followed wild grain and came out the side. But setting up a laser drill seems to be overkill. :) Alan

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You highlight an important consideration, Alan. Selecting straight grain wood is essential for stick pens. Save the figured wood for another project.

[@RickTurnsWoodturning]

Cool project, Mike! (Kind of an odd camera angle on the overhead shots, though.)

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I gather you found it distracting? I thought it gave a bit better view than shooting more straight down since it provided a combination view of top and front, but maybe not. Maybe someone else will comment.

[@RickTurnsWoodturning]

It's just that it's crooked. I feel like I need to turn sideways to see it correctly. :-)

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, I may have to rethink that angle if it is a distraction.

[@jeffoldham3466]

mike im going to try and make one of these pen holders,,looks like it would be a good thing to have,,do you have any problems with that size magnetic sticking to the frig

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Bigger is better!

[@hraun2berg]

Thank you for the idea. Júlíus

[@MrRay1955]

Its true the hardest part is the pen and the drilling. I don't have the pen jaws yet. I have to use the mortise taper for mine....but it worked out fine. I don't do what you all say because I am using the wood I have and don't have the exact dimensions you start with. When you start out you don't have the blanks like you professionals.

[@MrRay1955]

sorry couldn't show my work ......oh well.......I still love them....will make some more

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yea, I remember starting with a skew on spindles cut from 2x4's. The wood starts coming your way and pretty soon you have more than you need and it starts backing up on you. You have to fight to keep from being a wood hoarder.

[@BladeforgerKLX]

Good project, and I always like your videos. You do know that the bit in the Jacobs chuck can be moved forward and backward by just sliding the tailstock forwards and backwards on the lathe ways, right? THAT is the easiest way I've found. No cranking. No wonky vise grip problems.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

That tailstock weights 57 pounds on a PM3520 so does take some effort to slide back and forth with one hand, LOL!

[@zachomega187]

nice project. glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't care for ca finishes. also, I have no affiliation with them but magnets4less.com has a wide variety of magnets available with their pull force listed. I just bought a bunch of 1/2" diameter neodymium magnets with a 7 pound pull force for some fridge magnet projects. they are quite strong. they do cost more than eBay magnets, but they are consistent in strength and have a crazy amount of options.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, I had forgotten about them. Unfortunately their shipping costs more than the magnets! I found some better sizes on Ebay. Mine were N35 and I believe something a bit bigger would be better like 10x2mm would do fine. The stuff straight from China takes a while but shipping is typically dirt cheap or free.