Pen Turning

Forum for people who are new to woodworking. Feel free to ask questions or contribute.

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charlese
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Post by charlese »

Very nice looking set, Ron! Thanks for your description of the tools you use.:)
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
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navycop
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Post by navycop »

rkh2 wrote: This is a picture of them.[ATTACH]6146[/ATTACH]
That picture looks famliar. I've seen it in a post before..
Mark V 520, Ryobi 12" mitersaw, Delta 10" tablesaw, DC 3300.
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nuhobby
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World's Handsomest Handheld Pen Mill

Post by nuhobby »

Hi,

It is good everyone is keeping this topic alive. Pen-turning is a super hobby, well-supported by having at least one Shopsmith machine....

When I use the pen-mill (which I sharpen periodically) to square my blanks, I had been looking for a method with slow speed, good leverage, and good control. A handheld drill was fine but could run away on me. Now -- using the Shopsmith accessories -- I have a solution:
[ATTACH]6151[/ATTACH]

P.S. I am not retired and that's still probably 15-20 years away. But my hands look old! My wife was terrified the first time she saw them.
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Handsomest Handheld Pen Mill.jpg
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Chris
paul269
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Post by paul269 »

I use my mill in my jacobs chuck to.

But how did you sharpen the mill?
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navycop
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Post by navycop »

[quote="nuhobby"]Hi,It is good everyone is keeping this topic alive. Pen-turning is a super hobby, well-supported by having at least one Shopsmith machine.... [quote]



I reckon you just turn the jacobs chuck with your hand?
Mark V 520, Ryobi 12" mitersaw, Delta 10" tablesaw, DC 3300.
Mike
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nuhobby
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Post by nuhobby »

Yes, for minor squaring jobs, I can turn the chuck in my hand.

To sharpen the mill, I run each "flat" along a honing stone or an appropriate sandpaper on a piece of flat glass. (I'm not sure if the mill is made like a router-bit, or more like a "scraper tool." Anyway I don't go overboard on trying to de-bur the edge.) Sharpening makes a difference after a few jobs of use.

Penn State offers a carbide mill but I just kept my beginners-kit steel mill and it's been fine.
Chris
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tango
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Post by tango »

nuhobby wrote:Hi,

It is good everyone is keeping this topic alive. Pen-turning is a super hobby, well-supported by having at least one Shopsmith machine....

When I use the pen-mill (which I sharpen periodically) to square my blanks, I had been looking for a method with slow speed, good leverage, and good control. A handheld drill was fine but could run away on me. Now -- using the Shopsmith accessories -- I have a solution:
[ATTACH]6151[/ATTACH]

P.S. I am not retired and that's still probably 15-20 years away. But my hands look old! My wife was terrified the first time she saw them.
That really works? I've never used a squaring bit, but I was going to put mine in the drill press with the speed reducer, however if this (hand turning) works it'll same me oodles of time! More time to ramble on in forums
paul269
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Post by paul269 »

I mount the chuck and turn at the slowest speed. Hold the blank in a clamp and let the tool do the work. I cut my own blanks about 5 inches long. Sometimes they need to be trimmed first on the band saw to get closer to the brass tube, then milled.

But i noticed the mill seemed dull and might try your sharpening suggestion.
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