pen question

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:04 pm

Great question. I began by purchasing the 7mm barrel. Fast forwarding I now purchase the sets. Most of my pens and pencils are 7 or 8 mm. Truth be known those barrels don't last forever. Jim

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:14 pm

terrydowning wrote:The 7mm will work as that is the smallest size pen barrel.

If you start making larger barrel pens, just make a sleeve to fit over the shaft of the trimmer that fits inside of the larger barrel.

.

+1 on this. In fact, instead of a sleeve, I've used a careful wrap of blue or green painter's tape. This helps keep the barrel trimmer axially aligned in a bigger brass tube.

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:48 pm

terrydowning wrote:Or don't use barrel trimmer to square your blanks. I use the disc sander. Slightly elevate the tailstock. Place a drill bit or punch the same ID as your glued barrel in your tailstock mounted drill chuck. Place your tubed barrel on the punch. Advance the quill with the disc sander to sand off the barrel to the desired length and it will be square.This works great especially when doing an assembly line type of operation.

Sounds brilliant Terry, thank you! I think I get it. Love to see a picture, or better yet, a video of this process in action.

Best,
Tom

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:46 am

tomsalwasser wrote:Sounds brilliant Terry, thank you! I think I get it. Love to see a picture, or better yet, a video of this process in action.

Best,
Tom

I don't have video, but I hope to turn some pens tonight. I'll try to remember to takes pics of the process.

I'll submit to a new thread.

stickthrower · Post by **stickthrower** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:36 pm

Thanks Jim. There are alot of times that I feel kind of stupid when I have to ask some of my questions. But I know that is the only way I am going to learn it. I am leaning towards just getting the 7mm for now with starting, and then once I get into it, I can look at getting the universal later on.

I can't wait to start up. I will post some pictures. When i get them made up.

Going to go watch a few more Captn eddie videos and then start making a mess.

Nathan

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:41 am

terrydowning wrote:I don't have video, but I hope to turn some pens tonight. I'll try to remember to takes pics of the process. I'll submit to a new thread.

Thanks Terry. Especially interested in seeing your SS barrel trimmer solution.

I ordered some pen stuff from Penn State on December 1, received an automated email right away with an order number. Using that number I can check the status of my order. It appears it has not shipped yet. Probably swamped due to the holidays.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:45 pm

tomsalwasser wrote:Thanks Terry. Especially interested in seeing your SS barrel trimmer solution.

See this thread for my setup