Shopsmith Forums

Hi everyone...
So I bought these pen kits years ago and just found them in my shop as I am getting back into turning pens. The odd part about these is that the front tube is reduced and the kits have a really small tip included. The instructions show the lower tube to be drilled at 7mm for 2 inches and 3/16 for 7/16". What I don't get is the lower tube won't fit on a mandrel...so how are you supposed to turn it?

Has anyone seen or used these kits before? I would appreciate any help you can provide!

Thanks
Geo


slimline kit 555701 by EagleTa2, on Flickr

Can we see the parts for the kit?
Does the kit have a stepped brass tube?
Is the stepped hole used to accomodate a stepped pen refill?
I have never seen this type of instruction in a pen kit and a net search showed no results for a pen kit with the number 555701. Who is the manufacturer?
Bill V

eagleta2 wrote:Hi everyone...
So I bought these pen kits years ago and just found them in my shop as I am getting back into turning pens. The odd part about these is that the front tube is reduced and the kits have a really small tip included. The instructions show the lower tube to be drilled at 7mm for 2 inches and 3/16 for 7/16". What I don't get is the lower tube won't fit on a mandrel...so how are you supposed to turn it?

Has anyone seen or used these kits before? I would appreciate any help you can provide!

Thanks
Geo


slimline kit 555701 by EagleTa2, on Flickr

I have not used them, but it appears that Shopsmith still sells them.

SDSSmith wrote:I have not used them, but it appears that Shopsmith still sells them.

This confirms that it is a current catalog item.

Hi guys.

Here's a shot of the components of the kit... I never thought to check shopsmith to see if it was one of theirs...thanks for that Dusty...

If you can't see it in the pic... the logo is "Woodworking Unlimited"

Thanks!
Geo

slimline kit 555701 components by EagleTa2, on Flickr

"...so how are you supposed to turn it?"

Dusty's link states that you are supposed to turn it using your cone centers. I'm not familiar with a Shopsmith cone-shaped drive center. I suppose you could attach a block of wood to the Shopsmith screw center, and turn a cone from the block of wood.

Gary

Thanks Gary... I totally missed that

I do not have a screw center....and have never seen a cone center

I may have to get creative.

I wonder if I could use the live tail stock center on the smaller end and turn a cone shape piece of softwood with a round tenon on it that I could chuck into the drill chuck.

Either that or purchase some new tubes and standard pen tips to make the lower half of the pen the normal way.

Although, I like a challenge so it may be fun to play with it....and I already have the kits.

Thanks everyone for your input!

"I wonder if I could use the live tail stock center on the smaller end and turn a cone shape piece of softwood with a round tenon on it that I could chuck into the drill chuck."

Sounds like a plan! A short piece of dowel that will fit into the drill chuck should work. Good luck!

Gary

Screw a short piece of hard wood onto your screw center and turn a cone to fit in one end of the tube. This is the driver. Use the live center in your tail stock. If there is slop where the standard live center mounts to the tube, you may have to make a cone for this as well. Optionally purchase a #2 MT 60 degree live center for the tail stock. Several places sell these, wood craft, rockler, PSI, CSUSA (woodturnerscatalog), amazon, etc.