Teaching myself to turn pen

[JP Dorris]

Well, I have a month at home to recover from my ACL surgery, I am taking this time to teach myself how to turn pens.

I am missing a key tool (drill press), but did my best to make the hole in the blanks but ended off centre.

I broke on piece while squaring it, broke another while turning and ended up with a two wood pen. I learned a lot and have a ways to go but it looks ok for a first project



I also tried an acrylic and since I am not centred it won't turn properly, wood is more forgiving

[tazhunter0]

Looks good for your first one. Keep at it.

[White Falcon]

Very nice!

[meshmover67]

looks good to me

[Skullworks52]

Tip: I would get a chisel style tool for Turning pens and use that to turn down the ends more to better match the tip and ends. Looks good though!

[biglew]

That's awesome - keep up the good work! I like the colorations

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

Did you get one of those mini lathes too? I look at them every time I walk into woodcraft.

[JP Dorris]

Did you get one of those mini lathes too? I look at them every time I walk into woodcraft.

I stopped by one of our big box renovation store and they had a mini lathe on clearance for 80. I have wanted to try this for a long time but didn't want to fork out the 200 for the lathe so this gave me a good reason to try it out

[Kevin Warren]

"I am missing a key tool (drill press), but did my best to make the hole in the blanks but ended off centre."

I turn alot of pens and find that it is alot easier to drill the blank on the lathe vs a drill press. Off center shouldnt be to bad problem as long as there is enough material to turn.

[trooperjd]

Even if you drill slightly off center, with say a 3/4 inch blank you should still have enough to turn round and get it centered for a 7mm pen. I drill on drill press for pens and the lathe for certain game calls. I also have turn between center bushings and helps cut down on run out often found with mandrels. Good luck and enjoy the hobby.

[JP Dorris]

Pen two completed,

Used some recycled church pew oak to make my own blank

[Storm]

That looks like your getting the hang of it .

[cecilh1986]

looking good

[tazhunter0]

Doing good.

[Wood Man]

Nice job on the pen.