drilling pen blanks

anmius · Post by **anmius** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:25 am

Not owning a 10E or 10ER, I can't say for sure but you might have better success drilling in the horizontal boring mode. I seem to remember seeing Nick do this in the session on pen turning.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:43 pm

anmius wrote:Not owning a 10E or 10ER, I can't say for sure but you might have better success drilling in the horizontal boring mode. I seem to remember seeing Nick do this in the session on pen turning.

The bit does not care whether it is vertical or horizontal. The important thing is alignment, secure holding and last but definitely not least drill bit drift. Sharp helps, but is no guarantee. Slow in steps helps. Well behaved workpiece helps(but unfortunately them be boring to look at when done). Pun semi intended!:D

rdewinter · Post by **rdewinter** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 2:16 am

Today I re=drilled a Cocobolo pen blank using my SS 520 in the drill press mode rather than using my SS 10er. I secured the blank in the pen vise and clamped it to the fence. I used a sharp 7mm brad point bit. I checked the right angle relationship of my drill bit to the table--dead on. I took small bites and cleared the shavings frequently. The biggest difference in drilling the pen blanks today was two things (other than the fact that I used the 520 machine), firstly, I held the dust collector hose next to the hole while drilling and cleared the shavings not allowing the shavings to collect around the hole, and secondly, and I think most importantly, I used a brass wire brush and cleared the drill bit of wood shavings every time I retracted from the hole. It was amazing how much wood was impacted in the spiral grooves of the drill bit. The holes were perfectly centered. So I believe the lesson learned is to use a well aligned drill press with sharp bits and secured work piece AND clearing the drill bit of impacted wood so it has less tendency to wander from its intended straight path. I also used a 1"x1" pen blank which was easier to mark center point but did require more turning.
Thanks for all the great suggestions and recommendations.

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:51 am

Bob, here's how I drill my pen blanks. Using this method there is no problem at all with centering the blank and ensuring the blank is parallel with the drill bit. I've been very pleased using this method.

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JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 4:32 pm

tom_k/mo wrote:Bob, here's how I drill my pen blanks. Using this method there is no problem at all with centering the blank and ensuring the blank is parallel with the drill bit. I've been very pleased using this method.

[ATTACH]11219[/ATTACH]

Since there has been some dissatisfaction with the 'stability of the SS tailstock expressed in some earlier threads, I have to inquire why the reverse arrangement of the chucked workpiece and the 'quilled' bit.

This arrangement makes more sense to me since the quill is what feeds the rotating drill as opposed to a tailstock fed stationary bit.

Just wondering why you choose to do it this way.

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 4:47 pm

I've done it with the chuck on the quill end and the chuck on the tail-stock end. I have better results with the chuck on the tail-stock end. There IS a small chance that the blank can be clamped in the chuck not perfectly centered. If the chuck is on the quill end and the drill bit is in the tail-stock, the end of the blank furthest from being centered would be the exposed end where the drill bit would contact first. With the drill bit being stationary and the blank rotating slightly out of center, it can create an over-sized hole in that end. With the setup as shown, the blank is stationary,and we KNOW the drill bit is rotating on center of the quill. If the blank end is slightly off-center, it will still drill the correct sized hole, just not perfectly in the center of the blank.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 5:18 pm

tom_k/mo wrote:I've done it with the chuck on the quill end and the chuck on the tail-stock end. I have better results with the chuck on the tail-stock end. There IS a small chance that the blank can be clamped in the chuck not perfectly centered. If the chuck is on the quill end and the drill bit is in the tail-stock, the end of the blank furthest from being centered would be the exposed end where the drill bit would contact first. With the drill bit being stationary and the blank rotating slightly out of center, it can create an over-sized hole in that end. With the setup as shown, the blank is stationary,and we KNOW the drill bit is rotating on center of the quill. If the blank end is slightly off-center, it will still drill the correct sized hole, just not perfectly in the center of the blank.

Makes a lot of sense!!!! Straight correct size hole (albiet may be slightly off center of the surfaces to be removed!).

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:27 pm

JPG40504 wrote: Straight correct size hole (albiet may be slightly off center of the surfaces to be removed!).

Once ya round the stock, the hole will be centered.

cv3 · Post by **cv3** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:58 pm

I have enjoyed this pen vise I got from PSI. I have used it for drilling round and square stock of many sizes. It is a bit pricey but I am glad I have it.

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