Pen Making

PEN MAKING

One of my favorite woodworking projects is Pen Making.
The Tools required to make Pens are as follows:

1. Lathe .... I have a Jet Mini Lathe and it is perfect for pen making.
2. Lathe Tools You will need a 1/2 Gouge for rough cutting, a skew chisel for fine details and Parting tool for making tendons.
3. Pen mandrel This holds the pen blacks between centers while turning
4. Pen Bushings These are used to hold blanks but more for sizing the blanks. You will turn the wood down to the size of these bushings. There are different size bushing for different size or kinds of pens.
5.Barrel trimmer used to square up the ends of the wood before putting on the mandrel. A disk sander can be used instead of a barrel trimmer.
6. CA glue (super glue) or epoxy used to glue the brass barrel into the wood body.
7. You can buy blanks already pre drilled but if you cut your on, you will need the following:
Drill press, Vise to hold blank while drilling, drill bit (7mm for slim line kit), ans saw for cutting blanks to size.
8. Sanding paper 150-1000 grit
9. wax finish like HUT or Shellwax
10. Pen Kits, there are alot of pen kits out there most people start with a slim line kit.
these kits contain all the pen parts you need except for the wood.

Once you have everything.. you follow these easy steps:

Cut blanks to size for slim line 5/8" square and cut to the length of the brass tube plus an 1/8 inch used to square up blank later.
Drill Hole in the blanks 7mm for slimline kits. this hole must be drilled down the center of the blanks.
Apply glue to the brass blank and insert it into the freshly drilled blanks. You may want to sand the brass tube lightly to get better adhesion of the glue.
Once dry, square up the blanks using a barrel trimmer or disk sander.
Now put the mandrel on the lathe, put one bushing on then one pen blank, a bushing, the second pen blank and another bushing. Now move up an tighten tail stock with live center.
Begin turning the stock until you have the size and look you want. the ends should be turned to the size of the bushing. Well almost leave a tiny amount for the sanding process.
Sand while lathe is running fro 150 to 1000 grit paper.
You are now ready to apply wax for a finish.
Once this is done take the completed wood blanks and using a vise or pen press. Press the pen parts on to the wood blanks.
You now have a completed pen.