Turning a Pen

Safety information: Materials needed: Tools required:

-no loose clothing/strings -pen kit -drill press

-tie up long hair -pen blank (wooden or acetate) -17/64 drill bit
-no jewelry -pencil -belt sander
-Wear eye protection -square -mini lathe
-centre finder or ruler -carving tools (gouge and
-epoxy skew)
-sandpaper -band saw
-pumice stone powder -pen press
-linseed oil -appropriate mandrel

Woods grade 10
Preparing your blank
Choose an acetate or wooden blank. These have been precut to
size.

Mark your blank to fit both inserts in the kit. You will want some
overlap on the ends (1/8th” is OK).

Some kits will have 2 short inserts and some will have 1 long, 1
short. If your kit has different lengths, mark these pieces with S
and L (short and long).

Using the bandsaw, cut your blank along your marking.

Drilling your blank

Put your blank into a wooden clamp and ensure the flattest side is
facing down. Use a square to make sure your blank is sitting
upright.

Using a centre finder or a ruler, mark centre on your blank. This is

easiest when it is already in the clamp.

Centre the blank under the drill bit (17/64”) and check it on all
sides. Clamp using a second wooden clamp.
 Adjust the depth stop so that your bit can drill all the way
through your blank.

Drill all the way through until you hit the board below.

While drilling, pull the bit out of the material every few pumps to
clear out shavings from the hole.
Gluing the insert

Sand your insert using some sand paper. This will give it some
grip when you glue it inside the blank.

Mix your epoxy and apply to the insert on the lower 1/3. Twist the
insert into the blanks. Pay attention to timing - this epoxy must
be used within 5 minutes of mixing.

Ensure your pieces are fully pushed into the blanks. You want the
wood/acetate to overlap on both sides. Allow to dry overnight.
 Sand down your block on the belt sander. Be careful when using
small piees on the belt sander.

Stop sanding when you see the metal ring.

Attach your pieces on the mandrel using appropriate spacers

(diagram on next page).
Note: long mandrel is for pens or pencils, and short mandrel is for
pencils only.
 Pen

Pencil

Check your specific kit for washer instructions if it is

not the round top european kit or the slim pencil.
Set up the mandrel on the mini lathe with the tool rest installed.
Begin by using the gouge to turn your blank into a rough cylin-
der.

Use the skew to continue whittling until you have a shape that
you like. Pay attention to which side of the blank is the part where
you hold the pen, and which side is the top.

Continue whittling until you are almost at the washers but not
quite.
Remove the tool rest and use a strip of sandpaper to make your
blank smooth. Use 120, then 220, then use pumice-stone powder
to really make it shine.

You can use sand paper and pumice-stone powder on the acetate
blanks. Do not apply an oil finish.

Apply a finishing oil to your wooden blanks. I used linseed oil.

Clean up your area when you are finished turning.

Remove mandrel from lathe and remove blanks.

Use pen press to push parts together. Be careful and ensure you
follow the diagrams on the next page. Once you press pieces
together, it is almost impossible to get them apart.
 Pen

Pencil

Congrats! You did it :)