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Pen turning is a popular hobby. One can use a small lathe to turn pens (fountain, rollerball, or click or twist ballpoint) out of exotic hardwood, or, in some cases, acrylic. Other items of similar construction can be turned, such as mechanical pencils, seam rippers, crochet hooks, and keychains. Manufacturers supply kit parts containing the hardware. These usually are constructed by gluing a metal tube into the wood and turning this in the lathe on a mandrel. PS:One has a [[Lathe. Wen mini lathe|small Wen lathe]] that can do this well, and a collection of tools specific to pen turning.
Pen turning is a popular hobby. One can use a small lathe to turn pens (fountain, rollerball, or click or twist ballpoint) out of exotic hardwood, or, in some cases, acrylic. Other items of similar construction can be turned, such as mechanical pencils, seam rippers, crochet hooks, and keychains. Manufacturers supply kit parts containing the hardware. These usually are constructed by gluing a metal tube into the wood and turning this in the lathe on a mandrel. PS:One has a [[Lathe. Wen mini lathe|small Wen lathe]] that can do this well, and a collection of tools specific to pen turning.
Please contact Ryan Pierce or Donzell Gordon for information about pen turning, and Donzell for lathe questions and lathe authorization. The pen turning tools do not require special authorization, but authorization on the Wen lathe is required.
Please contact Riley Pierce or Donzell Gordon for information about pen turning, and Donzell for lathe questions and lathe authorization. The pen turning tools do not require special authorization, but authorization on the Wen lathe is required.
== Acquiring Materials ==
== Acquiring Materials ==
* 3/8 inch
* 3/8 inch
* 10 mm
* 10 mm
* 10.5 mm
* 12 mm
This tooling is stored in the blue plastic box under the Wen lathe, labeled Pen Turning. '''Please make sure all pen turning tools are returned to this box!'''
At present, PS:One only has tooling for "open end" pens, e.g. where the tube extends the entire length of the wood blank. Special tooling that PS:One does not currently own is required to make "closed end" pens.
At present, PS:One only has tooling for "open end" pens, e.g. where the tube extends the entire length of the wood blank. Special tooling that PS:One does not currently own is required to make "closed end" pens.
* 3/8 inch
* 3/8 inch
* 10 mm
* 10 mm
* 10.5 mm
* 12 mm
Using a pointed lathe tool to create a pocket for the drill bit brad exactly on the axis of rotation is ideal. Compare it with the crossed lines. If it is substantially off center, reposition the wood blank in the lathe chuck, and try again.
Using a pointed lathe tool to create a pocket for the drill bit brad exactly on the axis of rotation is ideal. Compare it with the crossed lines. If it is substantially off center, reposition the wood blank in the lathe chuck, and try again.
The inserts contain reamers that will also trim dried glue from the inside of the tube. Additionally, the kit includes a brass tube that slips around the 7 mm reamer so it will fit tubes used for the Penn State Industries #PKPARK-PCL and #PKMONT-PCL kits.
The inserts contain reamers that will also trim dried glue from the inside of the tube. Additionally, the kit includes a brass tube that slips around the 7 mm reamer so it will fit tubes used for the Penn State Industries #PKPARK-PCL and #PKMONT-PCL kits.
Additionally, we have two sleeves that slip over the 7 mm trimmer and fit 10.5 mm and 12 mm tubes.
It is helpful to secure the pen blank in a vise, or clamp it while trimming, which can help prevent tear-out. Chuck the trimmer in a drill and then trim the wood square and exactly flush with the tube, taking care not to shorten the tube appreciably.
It is helpful to secure the pen blank in a vise, or clamp it while trimming, which can help prevent tear-out. Chuck the trimmer in a drill and then trim the wood square and exactly flush with the tube, taking care not to shorten the tube appreciably.
CA glue is a hard, durable against wear, clear plastic finish that is inexpensive and easy to apply. It can be sanded and polished to a high gloss. The disadvantages of a CA finish are feel (the user is really feeling plastic, not the actual wood) and fragility (if the pen is dropped, the CA finish can crack and come off.) One method for applying a CA finish is shown in [https://youtu.be/WfLPYmuIM4k this video].
CA glue is a hard, durable against wear, clear plastic finish that is inexpensive and easy to apply. It can be sanded and polished to a high gloss. The disadvantages of a CA finish are feel (the user is really feeling plastic, not the actual wood) and fragility (if the pen is dropped, the CA finish can crack and come off.) One method for applying a CA finish is shown in [https://youtu.be/WfLPYmuIM4k this video].
Friction finishes employ shellac, oils, and wax to create a glossy but more natural finish. They can be applied quickly, and the user can feel the grain of the wood. Ryan prefers friction finishes. His current method:
Friction finishes employ shellac, oils, and wax to create a glossy but more natural finish. They can be applied quickly, and the user can feel the grain of the wood. Riley prefers friction finishes. Her current method:
# “Wet sand” using these [https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKFINKIT2.html sanding pads] that range from 500 grit to 4000 grit and [https://www.doctorswoodshop.com/Store/ProductID/5 walnut oil], wiping the piece clean after changing grits.
# “Wet sand” using these [https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKFINKIT2.html sanding pads] that range from 500 grit to 4000 grit and [https://www.doctorswoodshop.com/Store/ProductID/5 walnut oil], wiping the piece clean after changing grits.
