Drilling pen blanks

major_bob · Post by **major_bob** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:28 am

Anyone have any good ideas on the best way to drill out pen blanks? SS drill press or horizontal configuration? Jigs anyone has come up with to hold the blanks firmly in place ? I've tried a couple of things but still getting some unwanted movement of the blank.
As always, your help is appreciated !

bob

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:46 am

If you wade far enough into this thread you will find considerable discussion in regard to drilling pen blanks. http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... +blanks%27

Be careful what you ask for!:D

major_bob · Post by **major_bob** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:00 am

I guess that expands my question a bit. Should I be considering putting the blank into a chuck and spinning into a stationary bit on the tail stock ?
I'm a novice, but seems like a lot of trouble to drill a hole

Ron309753 · Post by **Ron309753** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:21 am

Major Bob,

Have you tried drilling them like Nick shows in Sawdust Session 8?
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... _Index.htm

Sincerely,

Ron

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:30 am

Bob;
I have a drilling fixture that I use for pen blanks posted on the SSUG.ORG website. Go to the Gallery and under the Jigs and Fixtures look for Bill Van's pen drilling jig. It is shown on a SS 520 fence but could be modified to fit a 500 or a 510 fence.
Bill

major_bob · Post by **major_bob** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:39 am

That jig appears to be about what I was looking for, although I would prefer to stay horizontal and avoid the extra effort of tilting up to drill press mode. Looks like you could easily but a 1/4 in piece of sacrificial wood under the blank to protect the jig.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:42 am

major_bob wrote:I guess that expands my question a bit. Should I be considering putting the blank into a chuck and spinning into a stationary bit on the tail stock ?
I'm a novice, but seems like a lot of trouble to drill a hole

IMHO I agree with you. Why ould you want to put a square shaped thing in a chuck.

I think drilling in horizontal mode with proper clamping makes sense. IF you have a good way to hold them in a drill press vise. that also makes sense.

Necessary to either method is positioning and holding it there.

tom_k/mo · Post by **tom_k/mo** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:32 pm

major_bob wrote:I guess that expands my question a bit. Should I be considering putting the blank into a chuck and spinning into a stationary bit on the tail stock ?
I'm a novice, but seems like a lot of trouble to drill a hole

I'm going to try this method as soon as I get a lathe arbor to mount the Jacobs Chuck to the tailstock.

I currently drill in Horizontal drill mode, I put the miter gauge extension on the miter gauge and use the adjustable stop on it to hold the block. It works well enough, BUT... you have to keep adjusting the height of the table and the miter gauge position on the table to keep the drill bit in alignment with the center of the blank as not all blanks are the same size. I currently have blanks ranging from 1/2x1/2" to 3/4x3/4" and some that are 1"Dia.

Using a Oneway chuck (or Baracuda chuck in my case) mounted on the quill and a Jacobs Chuck with a stationary drill bit on the tailstock should eliminate all alignment problems. The quill center and the tailstock center are always aligned, so it doesn't matter what size blank I'd chuck up in the headstock chuck, it should automatically be center aligned with the drill bit in the tailstock.

If this works as well as I hope, not only will the holes be centered easily each time, but switching the SS from drilling blanks to turning blanks should be faster, as I won't have to remove/install the table each time, it's just changing the ends on the headstock/tailstock to move from drilling to turning.

major_bob · Post by **major_bob** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:20 pm

I can now see the advantage of chucking the blank, that being, the ability to drill without putting the table top back on.
Unlike many of you with mulitple SS, I only have one (and can't seem to convince the wife of the need for a 2nd) I use the bandsaw for cutting the blanks so putting the table on and off for pen turning really is a pain.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:57 pm

Also Major Bob. We THANK YOU for your service to our country.