Pen turning tip...

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:21 pm

I've had a couple sets of pens "blow out" on the mandrel while turning, as I'm sure most pen turners have. I was trying to figure out the best way to reclaim the brass tubes so I could reuse them. Came up with the idea of putting the blown-out turnings in a small jar and pouring enough Acetone in it to just cover the turnings. I capped it up and 2 or 3 days later came back and the tubes literally slid right out of the wood, it completely dissolved the CA glue and the tubes are like new, ready to be used again.

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:04 pm

I just got a report back from a '[gift] customer' that one of my pens (made over a year ago) now has the wood blank rotating freely on one brass tube.

Looking closely at my pen jobs lately, I see that when I use epoxy to do the gluing, it may only wet the first 1/4"-3/8" of the hole inside the wood blank. I'm wondering if a thinner CA glue will wet the whole blank better, without pushing off as I insert the brass-tube into the blank?

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:01 pm

I use Gorilla glue to glue the tubes in. First I spray water into the hole in the blank with a cheap finger pump sprayer from Lowe's(about $2.00). I then run a bead of glue on a board and roll a tube in it to cover the entire tube, and slide it home. Wear throw away gloves and have everything laid out before starting the messy part. Later you can clean it out with the end mill. I have never had a failure and if I do have a blow out on the lathe I just turn the wood off the tube with a parting tool and re-use it.

Mark

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:31 pm

mbcabinetmaker wrote:I use Gorilla glue to glue the tubes in. First I spray water into the hole in the blank with a cheap finger pump sprayer from Lowe's(about $2.00). I then run a bead of glue on a board and roll a tube in it to cover the entire tube, and slide it home. Wear throw away gloves and have everything laid out before starting the messy part. Later you can clean it out with the end mill. I have never had a failure and if I do have a blow out on the lathe I just turn the wood off the tube with a parting tool and re-use it.

Mark

In the past I have used 08X31 Special T CA Adhesive for pen blanks, from Woodcraft.com A bottle came with a pen making kit I purchased from the about four years ago. I used that one bottle until last week when it dried up. I notice woodcaft is now pushing a similar product from Titebond. I will try that next. When gluing pen blanks I always sand the outside of the brass inserts and use a pointed tool to insert then after I spread glue over the entire surface of the brass insert. Then I turn the insert while inserting it into my wood blanks. I tend to prefer setting up anywhere from ten to 20 blank sets for gluing at a time. Then let them cure four at least three hours prior to turning (overnight if possible). Since developing this procedure I have never had a blank come apart. As to blowing out a blank. I do occasionally have that occur. I have enjoyed playing with trying different means to save them. Some are successful some not. One fun way is to save them and try to pair different wood blanks together and create interesting combo's that people often really like. Next to my easy chair I have a blank that I filled with a combo of epoxy and bamboo shaving from the turning of the blank. This once didn't turn out as well as some. Yet I like the pen it is balanced and fun to use. More than once a friend has tried to carry it home. Today I turned a bat for salmon fishing. I can't wait for my friend to open the box. The best part being the huge pile of sawdust I got to clean up. I love sawdust:D:D:D fjimp

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:44 pm

fjimp wrote:... Today I turned a bat for salmon fishing. I can't wait for my friend to open the box. ...

My grandfather used to joke about fishing with a bat and a can of peas..

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:05 pm

[quote="tom_k/mo"]My grandfather used to joke about fishing with a bat and a can of peas.. ]
I do not suppose the joke includes Ice Fishing?:D

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:44 am

Acetone came to the rescue again... Had a "senior moment" Saturday while drilling and gluing a bunch of different blanks up, and ended up gluing the wrong tube in a blank (correct diameter, wrong length). Both the blank and the tube were still good, but the tube was just glued in the wrong blank. Dropped the blank in my Acetone jar Saturday evening, and I checked it this morning, and the tube just slid out of the blank when pulling the blank out of the jar. I was able to salvage both pieces and can now glue the right tube in the right blank and finish both pens (as long as I don't have any more "senior moment"s...)

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:00 pm

tom_k/mo wrote:Acetone came to the rescue again... Had a "senior moment" Saturday while drilling and gluing a bunch of different blanks up, and ended up gluing the wrong tube in a blank (correct diameter, wrong length). Both the blank and the tube were still good, but the tube was just glued in the wrong blank. Dropped the blank in my Acetone jar Saturday evening, and I checked it this morning, and the tube just slid out of the blank when pulling the blank out of the jar. I was able to salvage both pieces and can now glue the right tube in the right blank and finish both pens (as long as I don't have any more "senior moment"s...)

Must have been caused by too much burning sulfur fumes!:D

BTW Those 'moments' get 'morer' and closer together!

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:53 pm

JPG40504 wrote:BTW Those 'moments' get 'morer' and closer together!

Boy, isn't that the truth...

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:29 pm

Huh? What?... Oh! Forget it! I forgot what I was going to say.