My dad taught me that even if you can afford something convenient, it is more fun to see whether you can accomplish the same thing inexpensively. Your video is a great accomplishment in that same spirit. May of our best inventions were sparked by people using that philosophy. Well done, my friend.

Awesome! Thanks Sam. Was thinking of trying pens but didn't want to spend a fortune. Just might try it after watching this.

Great information thank you

Thanks Sam for all the videos and your time you take to make them.

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Sam

Sam, I was holding my breath when your drill chuck started pulling out of the tailstock! One turner in my club needed a trip to the emergancy room and stitches when his jacobs chucked got pulled out and started whipping around. I always keep my right hand on the jacobs chuck when retracting so I can feel if it starts coming off so I can reach for switch. Lots of good info here for budding pen turners on a budget.

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

5 жыл бұрын

Mike You are totally right on this and correct in pointing it out. I will include this in my next Notes' video. This is important. This is why I don't like to use my jacobs chuck in the headstock. I do use a threaded drawbar. Using it in the tailstock it is safer. But NOT in this shot. I do remind folks to turn lathe speed down when drilling and especially when drilling with a hand held drill in a handle. Thanks for keeping me honest and safer....Sam

So many good ideas here for a new turner like myself….awesome stuff

Thank you for the video and your wisdom, Sam! This was very useful information and a wonderful way to make a specialty item without specialty tools. Many blessings.

Thanks for the (your)experience. Lot easier to learn from someone who has already been through the process.

Good ideas Sam! I've often thought about trying a pen. These ideas make it nice and cheap to get going... Thanks!

Great info. My head was spinning from all the stuff "required" to make a simple pen.

Hi Sam, Thanks for all the tips! I've been turning for about 3 years and have yet to turn a pen but they are on the list! Thanks for the video! Tom

Some fantastic ideas, Sam. I might start turning pens now! SAFE TURNING, John

Pretty awesome ideas, thanks for sharing!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, just what I needed 👍

Good video Sam, I always learn something from you....

Great ideas Sam. Thanks!!

Good tips here as usual Sam. Cheers from the uk. Hope you're staying safe!

Thanks Sam, nice tips. Take care as always from South Africa

Great money saving tips Sam👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Well done. Great tips.

Thanks! Great video. I was just looking into pen turning . Shopping for beginner kits and watching video. Which tell you, you need this tool and that tool and how each pen needs a different spacer. Soon you got about $200 bucks tied up and still haven’t turned a pen. I really didn’t want to spend a lot of money not knowing if I would really get into it. Now all I really need is just the pen kit.

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

2 жыл бұрын

Michael, you are totally correct in the turning pens might be fun and cool but can cost LOTS of $$$$ for even turning one pen. Sam

Thank you sir. Great video!

Thanks Sam. I’m sure the catalog companies love this one!😉 Lou

Really good ideas. Thanks.

He's a mad man...a mad man!

Thanks Mr. Sam

Great stuff. Unfortunately I have already gone down the slippery slope of having all the standard widgets, but at least if I get stuck with a something getting broken U/S I can use your ideas for back up. Thanks Sam.

Sam, I enjoy your videos. You are a great turner and add to our collective knowledge. There is one point, however, that I would like to add that comes from my years of pen turning experience. When trimming a blank, it is always preferred to orient the trimmed surface to the bore, NOT the outside surface. As your video shows, the hole is a bit off center and skewed. When you sand or trim using fosner bit, holding the blank by the outside surface it will likely cause finished blank to have an uneven fit when pressed into the kit. That's why most pen turners use a trimming device that orients the trimmed surface to the inside bore. Anyway, that's my two cents. Keep up the good work.

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

5 жыл бұрын

Larry, this is a GREAT point. I joke that I am not a real pen turner-I am a pen Hack. I never did think about that. I do use a barrel trimmer AND i have a hand held trimmer I use just before I put my pens together. You will see your comment in the Feb, notes video. Thanks for your wisdom. Sam

Sam, Again thanks for the tips - I use the quick clamp press option and it has worked for me on about 8 pens very well - also I would recommend everyone use their lathe as much as possible as it is easy to find center and maintain center throughout the pen making process (as it all is referenced off the same initial setting) - the tools that are not necessary might be a convenience thing or for individuals that make 50 or so in a batch - for me I think I will never make more than 5 at a time but I'm not trying to sell pens either.

I made the vise thinking about saving money and I also use a regular pencil to insert the tube into the blank. I also use a round file to clean the iside of the tube. I will definitely try the fostner bit for trimming. Thanks for sharing.

Fun video per usual

Great ideas..

You are very creative craftman and this is one of signs of higher IQ. Congtatulations.

So you're saying my plan to use a big ol' hammer to assemble my pens is not a good idea? LOL! Good video Sam, lots of ideas for us cheapskates out here.

I tried using the disc sander for trimming the end but found that it didn't always come out at 90 deg to the tube. But I think if you are using a conesyou wouldn't need the ends flushed anyway. Just do it while you are making the pen.

I had to subscribe, I know I can trust a carpenter when they are missing finger tips

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

4 жыл бұрын

Right on.....

Sam, I love your dog too.

Thanks..I'm poor..used my lathe to do everything..sorry spent the money on a drill press and a pen press..I actually did a lot of tricks using what I had..the brass insert out of wood..I will make me 1..thank you..

Drill blanks on lathe

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

2 жыл бұрын

I agree this is a good option and perhaps more accurate. But if I am drilling 20-30 pen blanks, it is too slow. Thanks Sam

I have both and have found that drilling on the lathe is FAR better than the drill press it stays centered. I don't use the drill press for pens anymore. I also notice the self centering pen vise for the drill press is misused 99% of the time. Self centering is of NO value if it is sliding around on the drill press table - it has to be fastened down with the proper procedure. How about a series of videos on how to make best use of the options, if you have all the options.

Hi Sam. Good video and ideas. Many of which I use. However, isn't the purpose of the end milling (barrel trimming) to square the wood/pen blank with the brass tube? If the hole is drilled off center your alternatives don't allow for that. To square up the tube with a disc sander you can make a guide with a rod square to the disc like on a miter gauge. Another question; When turning between centers, how do you gauge the ends without bushings? Thanks & keep up the good work.

@PHIL_S

5 жыл бұрын

Mel if you will allow me to jump in - the disk sander method will only flush the ends - the drilled hole from end to end will have already been accomplished at this point (I recommend a Jacobs chuck and drilling on the lathe when possible but this is not necessary however it does allow for great accuracy) and for accuracy the miter gauge process you talk about is a super idea. The bushings would be "made" when making the mandrel to/for the pen kit you are accomplishing. I differ here as I much prefer the store bought bushings myself as a couple of extra dollars on top of the kit and materials is insignificant to me. We all have our preferred methods that we have found work the best for us. Happy turnings Mel.

Why am I thinking that "Woody Turner" probably isn't the guy's real name? :)

@Sludgepump

5 жыл бұрын

His wife was Penny Blank before they were married but now she's Pen Turner of course.

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

5 жыл бұрын

Yikes--- to everything, turn turn turn.....

Welll, guilty on some counts but I promise to do better. However, on another point of two points. Wait for it, ever notice, while closely watching the more skilled, at some point in the video you catch a glimpse of a dog, more dogs than cats! Now I find I am also waiting for a dog part to wander by. Point 2, Sam, how the heck do you keep your eyeglasses so darn clean?

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

5 жыл бұрын

Love my dog....the glasses-really not too clean. Sam

I am a new wood turner myself and I 'am always looking for cheaper ways of doing just about everything I do. Being a new wood turner I'am always looking for advice, can you tell me some of your secrets for sanding the inside of a hollow forms? Also, where can I find some good quality turning tools?

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

5 жыл бұрын

Paul, the secret on my hollow forms is-----I DON'T SAND the INSIDE---I usually put a collar or insert for threading into the opening which makes them around 7/8" in diameter. You can't see inside them. I don't like vessels that have a 2" opening cause you do need to sand them. I shop for tools mostly on either Craft Supply USA or on Packard Woodworks. They carry very good tools. Craft supply also carries less expensive tools which are very good for beginner woodturners. here is a link to a good tool to start with. www.woodturnerscatalog.com/bs/117/2/Artisan-Hand-Tools-Turning-Tools Sam

@paullayden

5 жыл бұрын

@@WYOMINGWOODTURNER thanks sam

Hello Sam! It has been a long time since I last wrote to you - when I trapped, and broke, my fingers at the same time as you cut yours off. I wrote to tell you that you has inspired me to be brave and get turning again, not to let it beat me! Since then I have had various health issues (I am writing to you from hospital whilst awaiting heart surgery) and haven't done any wood turning for a couple of years now. My surgery is next Tuesday and so I am hoping to start turning again asap after that, starting with small, light pens. Although I can drill the pen blanks out on my lathe I would rather use the drill press, to avoid all of the handle turning - I will be not long out of surgery remember - but it only has around 40mm of quill travel if that. What, therefore, is the best and most accurate way of extending the drilling depth please? I had wondered about lowering the drill in the chuck but this will be tedious as I hope to drill a LOT of blanks. Will a couple of pieces of MDF under the vice be OK or is there too much danger of causing a kink in the hole where it takes off at an angle? Can you recommend anything else? Best regards, Tony Wells, Leeds, England.

@WYOMINGWOODTURNER

5 жыл бұрын

Tony, I also agree that the drill press is better overall and faster. Not sure how to help with the quill travel issue. Heart surgery! I wish you the best. As one who has had 12 or 13 major surgeries I just kept my faith in the doctors who do these surgeries every day. All my best to you. Sam

"Woody Turner"?