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ross WR Noob Offline Posts: 12 Gender:	pen tools Nov 8^th, 2005 at 7:33am I have just started turning pens and used a vice to press them...any ideas on homemade pen assembly tools. Ross ???
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Rev. Doug Miller

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Re: pen tools
Reply #1 - Nov 8^th, 2005 at 8:51am

Ross,

Welcome to the board first. Second, I put a bunch of pens together with a vice. It works quite well. However, there are several other options with a bit more control. One is to use a clamp with the trigger to tighten. they work very well. Another idea is to use a drill press. Glue a plastic block on the head of a bolt that will be chucked up. Use another block on the table. You then crank down on the handle. I did a pen the other day with a small bar clamp. I doesn't take much imagination to find all kinds of ways to press those little buggers together. 8)

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ross WR Noob Offline Posts: 12 Gender:	Re: pen tools Reply #2 - Nov 8^th, 2005 at 9:45am thanks...also someone told me to try my other lathe as a press....we shall see. Ross
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Re: pen tools
Reply #3 - Nov 8^th, 2005 at 3:24pm

Smoky will probably give you some ideas pretty soon. He is our resident pen guy. At the same time, you may want to pose your question on WoodCentral. There are several pen pros over there with a wealth of knowledge and huge bags of tricks.
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E. Bud Gillaspie

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Re: pen tools
Reply #4 - Nov 8^th, 2005 at 6:27pm

Ross, welcome to WR.

I'm not an expert but I have turned a few hundred pens and pencils. Here's what I've been doing: 1. I do not use CA glue. I use 5 min. epoxy. CA fumes are not good for me. 2. I use either a vise or a trigger clamp to press the parts together. I always pad the vise jaws w/several layers of soft cloth. If something works for you why change?

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junior Ex Member	Re: pen tools Reply #5 - Nov 8^th, 2005 at 7:06pm and dont try to drill the blanks with a hand drill!!! i made my first pen today, and i do not own a drill press, or a Jacob's chuck (yet). i ruined two expensive pen blanks trying to drill them out. i GOTTA find something that works!!!
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Negeltu Senior Member Offline Posts: 318 Gender:	Re: pen tools Reply #6 - Nov 8^th, 2005 at 7:20pm Just get a jacobs chuck for the lathe at harborfreight for $7. Mine is still working great.
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Re: pen tools
Reply #7 - Nov 9^th, 2005 at 3:31pm

I primarily use a drill press as described above, or a vise that I screwed pine on the jaws. With that one I can go in the house, watch tv, talk to the kids, and ask the family what parts look best with the turned barrels. Nice to sit in the living room and make the kids part of the fun.

I never thought to use a bar/trigger clamp. Shocked

seems so obvious.

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Tom Stover

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Re: pen tools
Reply #8 - Nov 9^th, 2005 at 4:37pm

Rev, you're too kind. Roll Eyes

I bought a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Freight to press my pens. Until I got it I used my drill press to assemble them. I drilled several blanks today on my lathe (I know others do to) using a jacobs chuck and a Talon with spigot jaws. This is, for me, the most accurate way to drill them. As for glue, if I have a loose fit or an oily wood I use gorilla glue. On plastics I usually use med. or thick CA glue. I use thin CA as a finish some also.

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junior Ex Member	Re: pen tools Reply #9 - Nov 9^th, 2005 at 9:09pm hey smokey, whats a talon with spigot jaws??? a pen guy tried to tell me that i pretty much had to buy a drill press if i wanted straight, non wallowed holes. if i can buy a few cheap attachments for the lathe and get the job done...
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Bob Hamilton WR Addict Offline Posts: 1,118 Forest, Ontario, Canada Ontario Canada Gender:	Re: pen tools Reply #10 - Nov 9^th, 2005 at 9:36pm Hi, Junior: A Talon is a 4-jaw scroll chuck made by Oneway, and the spigot jaws are just one of the jaw sets available as accessories for the chuck. They are excellent quality equipment, but not exactly cheap.... Take care Bob
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JimQuarles WR Addict WR Patron Offline WR Rocks, BIG Time! Posts: 13,194 Glendale, AZ Arizona USA Gender:	Re: pen tools Reply #11 - Nov 9^th, 2005 at 10:56pm "Not exactly" is a leeettle bit of an understatement. The Talon chuck is $210 and the Spigot jaws are an additional $40. JimQ
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Tom Stover Senior Member Offline Posts: 384 Shepherdsville, Ky Kentucky USA Gender:	Re: pen tools Reply #12 - Nov 10^th, 2005 at 4:05am No Jim, they're not cheap but they can handle just about anything you throw at them. There are cheaper chucks out there that will do a good job and will last for quite a while if you don't abuse them, but a scroll chuck is the only way to go.
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Re: pen tools
Reply #13 - Nov 10^th, 2005 at 9:31am

junior: If your looking for a drill press check out "Harbor Freight". YOu should be able to find one in you price range. While you don't need a floor standing model I'd look for one that will handle your needs for a few years, rather than getting the cheapest (small) one out there. I use my drill press all the time. Also look for varable speed.

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