Pen Making - Squaring Blanks to Tubes

[@MikeWaldt]

Another very informative video Brendan, thanks for the great tips mate. Take care Mike

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Thanks mike, I'm a bit sick looking at pens but it might be worthwhile, more later. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@CarlJacobson]

Great tips Brendan, thanks for sharing.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Thanks Carl, I have another run to do so I'll fire up a video of the actual turning. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@tcacfoh]

Great tips. Thanks for the help!

[@baconsoda]

Glen Clark Thanks Glen. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@BuiltByChris]

What a brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing, mate. It’s how I’ll be doing it from now on. Cheers.

[@baconsoda]

Thanks Chris, it's almost five yers since I made that video and I am still squaring blanks this way because I haven't found anything better. Make sure your lathe is square before starting. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@DanielVilarino]

Hi Brendan! You are absolutely right! You have to square the blank to the tube and not the other way around. What I do is similar, I use a blank drilling mandrel for making the perforations and make sure to mark the sides that are being held by the mandrel, so, after I glued the tube, I can come back to the same position and use a Forstner to making the blank square to the tube. It has worked pretty well for me and in a way, it is a very similar concept of what you have demonstrated in your video. Great tip mate! Cheers! Daniel

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Daniel Vilarino Hi Daniel, that method of your's is very good, I'll give it a go, you can never have too many techniques to do the same job.Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Excellent information and execution. Regards, Bob

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

RJBWoodTurner Thank you Bob.Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@raftersteve]

Great video! thank you! Concisely spoken and processes described. Not just the how but the why!

[@baconsoda]

Thank you Steve, I appreciate this kind comment very much. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@kbbacon]

Very good system. Simple, yet elegant!

[@baconsoda]

Thank you Kevin. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@BlindWoodTurner]

Hi Brendan !! Thanks for the video.I will get the drifts and dummy taper this week because it is a good way of putting consistency and better tolerances into my pen production. Cheers !! Chris.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Christopher Fisher Thanks Chris, I'll send you the link to the taper I got from Axminster. Ther beauty of this is that it's safe and you can easily feel for the brass tube. I listen to the tone changing when I'm sanding towards the tube and then feel the rest of the way.Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@gordonmillar998]

Ah, I see the problem you have solved, the hole will not necessarily be parallel to the sides! Clever. Never made a pen before, they would make excellent personal gifts. Tks for making the video Brendan.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Thanks Gordon, a word of warning...please know that pen turning is very addictive and will make you into a hoarder of all scrap...even worse than before because now every tiny piece of wood has possibilities. you will also invent systems to store the many variations of the same parts you need that must not be interchanged...ever! Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansimpson596]

Hello Brendan, When I began woodturning about 3 years ago I made lots of pens and enjoyed it greatly. I've been through many turning phases since but I've recently returned to pen making. I couldn't find my old mandrel so financially I broke out this month and bought a new one together with some Slimline,Sierra and Sedona kits. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make a pen as I'm totally absorbed by a competition I'm entering on Saturday. I can't give away too much info as some of my competitors are quite ruthless. Great to see you back on KZbin. Best wishes, Alan.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Alan Simpson Hi Alan, I'm flat out making pens but I'll tell you why on Saturday. I am starting my mirror tomorrow, I am scared of waiting any longer. Do you need that book back this weekend? I haven't managed to get back to it because of other stuff but, if you need it I will give it back and get it again some time.Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansimpson596]

BMac Woodturning Hello Brendan, I think you may be referring to the book on segmented turning. If so that was a gift so please enjoy. See you Saturday. Do you know what the agenda is and can you confirm we convene @9.30am. Alan.

[@baconsoda]

Alan Simpson Hi Alan, I meant the book about the American Airmen over here. I am still working on segmenting and the book you gave me is very good so thank for that. Saturday starts at 9.30am, costs £15, we get lunch and it finishes at 5.00pm. The demo guy is Les Thorne. Big day today...the mirror project starts. I want t see how I get on because I can buy 20 more blanks tonight at the Woodshed if I have as many disasters as I expect. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@mooseberrycreations1408]

Excellent tip. Thanks for sharing. Take care, Rik

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Thank you, you're welcome. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@MarkGarth]

Nice set of transfer punches you have there. Good technique for setting everything square, thanks :-)

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Mark Garth Thanks Mark, those were cheapies off Ebay.Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansimpson596]

Hello Brendan, Thanks for the tip about attaching the handle to a mirror on KZbin. The gentleman is right because at my first attempt I got the mirror neatly inserted into the wood but left it loose enough to remove. I brought into my relatively warm house and the next morning I couldn't get the glass out. Obviously the wood had contracted during the night. However, it was one of my rejects so I got the glass out again. I called into the Wood Shed one day and bought two mirrors. I told Sam I was buying two as I was sure to break one and he laughed. I shouldn't tempt fate but I think I've got my attachment problem solved so maybe I can move onto more enjoyable aspects of the project. In respect of your car buying as you know my car is left hand drive. I bought it in France in 2007 and I had to order. A month later I got a phone call that the car had arrived with the dealer and I was given an appointment - something like 11.40 am. I turned up on time and discovered that the dealer handed over all the new cars on a single day each month. It was like a production line first stop being the cashier to pay up and then out the back where the new cars where being polished. The supervisor gave me a quick lesson on how everything worked and off I set. Don't mention Q cars as I'm still constantly looking in my rear view mirror. Haven't been caught yet but it's only a matter of time as I tend to drift a few miles over the limit especially on motorways. Happy turning, Alan.

[@Bobandus]

Those are transfer punches Brendan, a drift punch is a tapered bar more like a pinch bar for use on sheet metal for lining up holes before you put rivets in. nice logic in your method of solving the problem with have at hand. I'm not trying to be a nit picky know it all, but i do know the pain of spending 3 days on ebay hopelessly looking for an item by the wrong name with no results and then find loads once you get the name right. Good to you see that project season is with you once more, still a bit to cauld for me for another month or so. All the best , Andy.

[@weisleify]

Thanks a bunch. Saved me a day or two of searching.

[@adamquincey4371]

Excellent... Thanks for sharing... Very simple but very effective, and I'll defiantly be doing the same... Thank you ... Cheers...

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Adam Quincey Thank you, Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@stuartdavey]

Nicely explained and demonstrated. As an alternative, you could also use a piece of drill rod.

[@baconsoda]

Thank you, that's a very good idea, I'm sure people reading these comments will benefit from it too. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@SuperBowser87]

Great video. I'm starting to use this technique. Pleased so far. Thanks!

[@baconsoda]

Tom Wilcox Thank you, I've found this is critical to get Sierra pens to operate properly. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

baconsoda Wrong account again. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansimpson596]

Hello Brendan, My major problem is making a seamless joint between the handle and the rounded wood which will hold the mirror. I'm about to have my fifth go now. I propose to encrust the surround of the mirror with diamonds so I'm waiting a delivery from De Beers:-) Alan.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

LOL, that joint is why I haven't started yet. If I find a method that works for me I'll let you know. Now I need diamonds and my last lot went on a bloody car last week. Oh well, cubic zircona will just have to do....if it's good enough for Cindy Drozda it's good enough for me. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@gasantaeric]

Great idea...thanks

[@baconsoda]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching.

[@ajwilsenach]

Thanks.Great tip.

[@baconsoda]

You're very welcome.

[@renatob7562]

Thank you

[@tblbaby]

Chumm! Brilliant!

[@baconsoda]

LOL, thank you. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansoulsby9781]

Thanks Brendan l will do this from now on 😆

[@sethv.1349]

Did you glue the sanpaper disc to the mandrel?

[@baconsoda]

Hi Seth, the sandpaper disc is self-adhesive. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@dwarner50]

Where do you find the dummy morse taper? Did you have to do anything to the face to put the sand paper on it?

[@baconsoda]

Hi Doug, I got that one from Axminster Tools in England (www. axminster.co.uk/ morse-taper-arbors-b16-ax821492) The face comes flat with a centre point started to help set it up for machining for whatever process it's needed. The sanding discs are 1" P120. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alanreynolds8054]

Brilliant idea. Very helpful. Thank you. Where do you get such a mandrel from, and what is it called? I have a lathe with an MT2 but cannot find a mandrel looking like yours. Great idea with the drifts too. I can imagine they will be useful for all sorts of things. Cheers. Alan

[@baconsoda]

Hi Alan, thank you for this kind comment. I got that mandrel from Axminster Tools in England but I'm sure they are available everywhere. They are called 'Stub arbors' and are here, www.axminstertools.com/stub-arbor-340307, in Axminster. I hope your search is successful.

[@tropifiori]

Can you use a drill bit as a drift?

[@baconsoda]

You sure can, it doesn't have to be an exact fit. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansimpson596]

Hello Brendan, Congrats on your new car. Is it the one beginning with Q? Sorry, I can't remember how to spell it. I cracked the joint - I used a 6 inch nail - it's now well and truly cracked. Looking forward to seeing the new car on Saturday. Alan.

[@baconsoda]

Yes, the Q car. (Isn't that what we used to call police cars?). No car yet, it will be 12 weeks....yes, 12 weeks. It looks like cars are built to order too. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@weisleify]

Where did you get your drift set? Can't find one anywhere.

[@baconsoda]

I should have called them 'transfer punches' - they are easily available on Ebay for a few dollars. Type in ''transfer punch set" in ebay and loads will appear.

[@weisleify]

baconsoda, thank you.

[@baconsoda]

You're very welcome.

[@jeffoldham3466]

where did you get the morse taper mandrel

[@baconsoda]

+jeff oldham Axminster Tools. Mine is a stub arbor, Order Code: 340307 Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

+jeff oldham Oops, wrong ID again.

[@Pete.G]

I don't have a disc sander and was going to make something that uses a faceplate. Do you suppose I could just do both squaring operations with that?

[@bmacwoodturning2035]

Hi Pete, you could certainly. Just make a table with a 90 degree setting to sit square to the sanding disc and then use a mandrel in a Jacobs chuck in your tailstock to square the tubes properly. Your pen mandrel will do if you can slide it out of the collet or Morse Taper it came in. If you look on here you will see lots of ideas for a sanding table. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@alansimpson596]

Hello Brendan, I've just received an email from peter Lyons re Saturday. No hurry with the book. With regards to the mirror I'm on mark 4 and still not there. I have had some very expensive kindling this past week Best wishes, Alan.

[@baconsoda]

Hi Alan, i got the email from Peter too but I can't help him. My strategy is to make a prototype (which wll look better than the finished article) and then make the real one. Maybe I should reconsider that and say my strategy is to make loads of prototypes and, in total panic of Friday night, make something that almost resembles a hand mirror. Best Wishes, Brendan.