
Pen Turning
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World's Handsomest Handheld Pen Mill
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.
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 (33.58 KiB) Viewed 3485 times
Chris
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.
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
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 forumsnuhobby 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.
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.
But i noticed the mill seemed dull and might try your sharpening suggestion.