Making institution pens is a very enjoyable hobby. Many woodworkers do nothing else, as this is an easy way to make a scheme from start to desist in very miniature time. It doesn't require a large venture in tools and materials, or require a large work space.
Required Tools (the very basics)
1. A small lathe, used to turn the pen.
2. A singular turning tool, like a medium sized gouge to shape the pen.
3. A small drill press, which is optional, to drill the center hole.
4. A mandrel, which is the tool the pen blanks are mounted on, and installed on the lathe, and have bushings, which guide you in turning the ends to the desired diameter.
5. A recipe of pressing the pen hardware together is beyond doubt all you need to go from a quadrate pen blank, to a beautiful, accomplished pen blank. Many population use a wood clamp for this.
Required Materials
1. Pen blanks, as they are called, is a small piece of material, usually ¾ of an inch square, by 5 ½ inches long, are easily available from many sources.
2. Pen Kits, also available at these same provide sources, contain all the actual pen parts.
3. Epoxy, or super glue, is used to glue the brass tube into the pen blank. (The brass tube is supplied in the pen kit).
4. A desist to put on the pen to protect it from the oils on your hand during use.
The blanks can also be purchased with much of the work, if it can be called that, pre done. They are already cut to rough length, and rounded to an acceptable size to begin turning. The required hole is also drilled to accept the pen hardware, eliminating the need for a drill press.
These blanks come in many materials. Exotic woods, inevitable metals, plastics, solid covering materials, like Corian, and much more. Even deer antlers are a ordinarily used material, and are beyond doubt obtained.
The Pen Kits, which is how the hardware of the pen is purchased, are available in many styles and finishes, and contain all the indispensable parts to unblemished your pen. Specialty pens, created around other hobbies, such as hunting, or fishing, and sports like baseball or football, hockey or tennis, pretty much whatever you can think of, have pocket clips customized to allow you to make the pen for anyone. Even clips for separate professions like doctors or lawyers are available.
Procedure
If buying the acceptable sized pen blanks, the first step is to cross cut them in half. If making some at a time, laying them against a fixed object, and with the ends flush, mark the halfway point on one blank and using a square, mark all the blanks. The safest way to cut them is a band saw, if available, but even a hand saw is fine.
If you intend to mass furnish them, it's worth making a jig to eliminate the measuring and marking step. It is then just laying the blanks on the jig and cutting them with an acceptable saw.
The next step is drilling the center hole, lengthwise straight through the blanks. The hole size is considered by the type of pen kit used, and is noted in the kit. 7mm is very common.
Special clamping vises are available for drilling the center hole and are very handy. They make drilling the hole perfectly parallel, much simpler. Although they are around .00, they are well worth it. an additional one way to drill the blank is to hold it in a wood clamp, making inevitable it is quadrate to the table. Doing this is a bit tricky, and a miniature aggravating, but beyond doubt doable.
Once the drilling is completed, gluing the brass tube is next. Again, there is a tool designed for this, (around $ 10.00), but a nail set works just fine. Using super glue works well, as does epoxy. The thick, gap filling super glue is the one to use. Before applying the glue, sand the tube a little, just to rough it up and give the glue something to "bite" on to. Apply the glue around the tube and insert it into the hole. Depending upon the cure time of the glue, leave it until the glue is dry.
Again, there is an additional one tool, (.00), designed to clean the excess glue from inside the tube, as well as drill the end of the blank flush to the brass tube. an additional one way is to sand the blank ends flush. If any glue resides in the tube, insert a small drill bit, matching the tube size, and drill it out.
Now it's time to mount the two pieces onto the mandrel, surrounded by the included bushings. The bushings are the allowable size to turn the blank flush to, and are sized agreeing to the pen kit. The mandrel is held in the lathe on both ends by the chuck on one end, and the tailstock on the other. It's leading to use a live center on the tail stock. This simply means the pointed tip spins freely, apart from the center itself, especially with acrylics, otherwise, the end will overheat. The acrylic blank will beyond doubt start to melt.
Using the turning tool you choose, a gouge is recommended, turn the blank to the desired shape. Here it is a matter of practice, in studying the operate of the tool, and the techniques used for turning. It is advisable to institution on a cheaper blank, at least until you are comfortable with turning. It's beyond doubt irritating to ruin a gorgeous pen blank!
Once the blank is turned to the desired shape, and you're happy with it, it's time to desist it. The finishing process is very easy, and very satisfying. It's when you get to see the fruits of your labor. Depending on the blank material, the finishing process is done with a range of products, but in every case, is done while still mounted on the lathe.
When the pen blank is removed from the lathe, it is completely finished. Once more, a special tool can be used to assemble the pen. (About $ 30.00). This is a press, designed specifically to push the pen parts together, ensuring the parts fit properly. It can be done with a wood clamp, but the press is a much best way to go.
The whole process of making a pen can be done in less than an hour, and is a great way to enjoy yourself, and forget the hurries and worries of the world.
They can also be sold to generate an extra income, or given as gifts which will be very much appreciated. The user will think of you every time they write something. It's the exquisite gift that keeps on giving.
Overall, this is a frightful hobby, is very safe, even for youngsters, with adult supervision, and will lead to many hours of fun.
updated blog post practice Made Pens updated blog post