pens from new pen turner
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I haven't broken my tail stock out of the box yet. Is there any special type of "center" that needs to go on the end? I heard something about a dead/live center for general wood turning. Is the mandrel all I need to get? Walt300 says to make sure the bushings match the mandrel. Are they sold separetly from the mandrel?
Mark V 520, Ryobi 12" mitersaw, Delta 10" tablesaw, DC 3300.
Mike
Mike
Navycop I am uncertain exactly what you are breaking out of the box. Yet if its a tail stock center you are considering for pen turning you want to purchase the link shown herenavycop wrote:I haven't broken my tail stock out of the box yet. Is there any special type of "center" that needs to go on the end? I heard something about a dead/live center for general wood turning. Is the mandrel all I need to get? Walt300 says to make sure the bushings match the mandrel. Are they sold separetly from the mandrel?
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCENTLT2.html
The mandrel attaches to the headstock. The tailstock live center attaches to the tail stock. Once you have the mandrel attached to headstock and live center inserted into the tail stock you will move the head stock along the rails to the tailstock. It is likely the indention in the end of the mandrel will not line up with the point of the live center. On each side of the front or top sides of the tail stock there are (2) allen screws. You can loosen them and rotate the insert in the tailstock until the two points align. It's a shame we are so far apart I would be happy to help you see how this works if we were a hundred miles closer. Good luck. Jim
F. Jim Parks
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
Thomas Jefferson made the trip quite often - and there was no I-64!fjimp wrote:It's a shame we are so far apart I would be happy to help you see how this works if we were a hundred miles closer.
(sorry, couldn't help myself)
- - - -
I am really enjoying this thread! pen turning is my newest "hobby that I haven't tried yet" but have been reading up on it all week and ordered the mandrel yesterday from PSI.
Sunday, for the first time ever, I took a lathe chisel to wood (just a blank quickly made from a 2X4) and it was so cool! I picked up some Grizzly chisels that were sharp out of the box; they were nice and heavy and made easy work of it. Looking forward to my first pen in a week or so!
JC
Hampden Twp, PA
Bought, restored and sold a 520 before I knew what I had (and should have kept) - Now I found religion and I'm working on restoring a 500 and a 10E.
Hampden Twp, PA
Bought, restored and sold a 520 before I knew what I had (and should have kept) - Now I found religion and I'm working on restoring a 500 and a 10E.
Tube Collar Assembly
With the tailstock there are two alignments that you will need to make.
The first will be the left right adjustment.
This is done at the Eccentric Mount.
Put a center in the tailstock. I find it best to put the drive center on the headstock but others like to use a drill bit in the drill chuck. Loosen the set screw and align a tailstock center mounted in the Eccentric Mount with the head stock. While
looking down from over the tailstock rotate the Eccentric Mount until they align.
next adjust the height so that the drive center and tailstock center match. At this point you should be able to bring the drive center to the center on the tailstock and have the points touch tip to tip.
Fine tune as needed to achieve alignment.
once alignment is good adjust the Tube Collar Assembly's on the tailstock and you are good to go.
The first will be the left right adjustment.
This is done at the Eccentric Mount.
Put a center in the tailstock. I find it best to put the drive center on the headstock but others like to use a drill bit in the drill chuck. Loosen the set screw and align a tailstock center mounted in the Eccentric Mount with the head stock. While
looking down from over the tailstock rotate the Eccentric Mount until they align.
next adjust the height so that the drive center and tailstock center match. At this point you should be able to bring the drive center to the center on the tailstock and have the points touch tip to tip.
Fine tune as needed to achieve alignment.
once alignment is good adjust the Tube Collar Assembly's on the tailstock and you are good to go.
Mike......... Rowlett, Texas, near Dallas
86 MK V 500/520. 59 MK 5 Greenie Shorty. SS Jointer, SS Planer,
SS Bandsaw, SS Lathe duplicator, SS Belt Sander,SS Molder & Shaper,
SS Tenon master jig, SS Mortising kit, SS 2 1/4' Drum Sanders, Ringmaster, DC3300....
86 MK V 500/520. 59 MK 5 Greenie Shorty. SS Jointer, SS Planer,
SS Bandsaw, SS Lathe duplicator, SS Belt Sander,SS Molder & Shaper,
SS Tenon master jig, SS Mortising kit, SS 2 1/4' Drum Sanders, Ringmaster, DC3300....
I was talking about the end piece that the live center goes to (tailstock). It is still in the box that I got with my SS. I have had no desire to get it out until now. Seeing all these beutiful pens. I am thinking I can do that and make some extra $ in this time of layoffs. I just get confused with all the talk of live/dead centers. I think one turns and the other doesn't. Looking at post #8 I didn't notice any "center". In mikelst post he shows the pen started kit. There is no center with it just the mandrel.
Mark V 520, Ryobi 12" mitersaw, Delta 10" tablesaw, DC 3300.
Mike
Mike
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tom_k/mo
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The live center is there in post #8, it's just a different style and looks a little different. One thing I found also about turning pens that hasn't been mentioned yet. If you have a Lift Assist kit installed on your ShopSmith (as I do), it limits the distance your carriage assembly which holds the toolrest will slide towards the tailstock, and you will probably not be able to slide the toolrest far enough to get it to align with the pen mandrel. You'll need a #2 Morse extension to slide into the tailstock and put your live center into the extension to get everything to play together nicely.navycop wrote:I was talking about the end piece that the live center goes to (tailstock). It is still in the box that I got with my SS. I have had no desire to get it out until now. Seeing all these beutiful pens. I am thinking I can do that and make some extra $ in this time of layoffs. I just get confused with all the talk of live/dead centers. I think one turns and the other doesn't. Looking at post #8 I didn't notice any "center".
ShopSmith MarkV-520 with Belt Sander, Jointer, Band Saw, Strip Sander, Scroll Saw and Biscuit Jointer SPTs and a DC-3300...
Woodworking Hobbyist (Check out all my Woodworking Plans (http://vbwhiz.isa-geek.net/plans)
Aspiring Sandcarver: Breaking glass one grain at a time.
Black Powder Shooter (love the smell of burning sulfur).
Woodworking Hobbyist (Check out all my Woodworking Plans (http://vbwhiz.isa-geek.net/plans)
Aspiring Sandcarver: Breaking glass one grain at a time.
Black Powder Shooter (love the smell of burning sulfur).
[quote="affyx"]Thomas Jefferson made the trip quite often - and there was no I-64!
(sorry, couldn't help myself) ]
Yes well Mister Jefferson's mode of transportation didn't use fuel as fast as my tank does. Jim
(sorry, couldn't help myself) ]
Yes well Mister Jefferson's mode of transportation didn't use fuel as fast as my tank does. Jim
F. Jim Parks
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
Lakewood, Colorado:)
When the love of power is replaced by the power of love the world will have a chance for survival.
Navycop
The live center in post 8 is my SS live center which SS sells. I have had no problems using it on any turnings I have done. The instructor at a couple of TA's I attended used this version to do both spindle and pen turnings as well. The live center that is described in post 12 is better from what some folks say but I can not comment on it myself since I don't have that one. The difference between the dead center & live center is like someone mentioned, one does not move and you probably need to put bees wax on it to create less friction while the live center pointed portion moves thereby causing no friction while turning and two TA instructors both affyx - I only have one pen around that I could take a picture of so here it is. This pen is made from acrylic using the wet sanding method. It is a crimson red in color and a slimline pen. I have done both wood and acrylic but usually make them for gifts or sale if someone wants to pay for one. For what you have to charge for them in order to make any profit, most folks don't want to pay that much for a pen. There are however some folks out there that appreciate handcrafted items and are willing to pay what you ask. [ATTACH]5515[/ATTACH]
The live center in post 8 is my SS live center which SS sells. I have had no problems using it on any turnings I have done. The instructor at a couple of TA's I attended used this version to do both spindle and pen turnings as well. The live center that is described in post 12 is better from what some folks say but I can not comment on it myself since I don't have that one. The difference between the dead center & live center is like someone mentioned, one does not move and you probably need to put bees wax on it to create less friction while the live center pointed portion moves thereby causing no friction while turning and two TA instructors both affyx - I only have one pen around that I could take a picture of so here it is. This pen is made from acrylic using the wet sanding method. It is a crimson red in color and a slimline pen. I have done both wood and acrylic but usually make them for gifts or sale if someone wants to pay for one. For what you have to charge for them in order to make any profit, most folks don't want to pay that much for a pen. There are however some folks out there that appreciate handcrafted items and are willing to pay what you ask. [ATTACH]5515[/ATTACH]
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- Sharon's Pen.JPG (130.59 KiB) Viewed 4669 times
Ron from Lewisburg, TN
Ron, just having plan nosiness here. HOW much do you ask for?
SS 500(09/1980), DC3300, jointer, bandsaw, belt sander, Strip Sander, drum sanders,molder, dado, biscuit joiner, universal lathe tool rest, Oneway talon chuck, router bits & chucks and a De Walt 735 planer,a #5,#6, block planes. ALL in a 100 square foot shop.
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Bob
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Bob
Bob
Probably not enough as between the blank and the pen components plus a small clear plastic case I had about $10 invested and only sold them for $15.00. Should probably have asked at least $20. I haven't really tried to get anything going as far as making extra money from what I consider a hobby, but its something I may consider. I gave more away as gifts as well as turned Christmas ornaments and a few captive ring baby rattles. When I sell a baby rattle I ask $25 for them. My avatar is an example of the baby rattle.
Probably not enough as between the blank and the pen components plus a small clear plastic case I had about $10 invested and only sold them for $15.00. Should probably have asked at least $20. I haven't really tried to get anything going as far as making extra money from what I consider a hobby, but its something I may consider. I gave more away as gifts as well as turned Christmas ornaments and a few captive ring baby rattles. When I sell a baby rattle I ask $25 for them. My avatar is an example of the baby rattle.
Ron from Lewisburg, TN