Help with pen making 2 questions

ThomasT

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Hello everyone,

As soon as I can get all the required new equipment assembled I will try my hand at Pen turning and I need a bit of advice on two questions. I do know of and have read the real good tutorial here on the Forum, but would like some personal input.

1) What turning tool/chisel (s) do you recommend for turning the Pen blanks, ( size, style and brand)?

2) Excluding CA, what do you recommend for the best "finish" material?

Thanks in advance and have a great day,

ThomasT
 

ripjack13

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I started with carbides because they're easy to maintain.

And a friction polish is a good finish. Although it will wear out over time.
 

ThomasT

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I started with carbides because they're easy to maintain.

And a friction polish is a good finish. Although it will wear out over time.

Hello Marc,

I have been studying up on the various Carbide tools and like what I have found out so far. I am not familiar with Friction Polish so will check that out.

Thanks for your help and have a great day,
ThomasT
 

The100road

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I pretty much use on my pens
CA - 75% of the time
BLO & beeswax - 15% of the time
Hut friction polish about 10% of the time

84952CC8-6A5B-4920-B73E-C555546C034B.jpeg
 

ripjack13

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When I get home later tonight I can link up some stuff for you to look at....
 

ThomasT

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Hello Marc,

Thank you for this contact with John, seems like a really nice guy and has some nice looking tools. I went ahead and placed an order with him for three tools and now looking forward to trying out some of these Carbide style.

Between you and @rocky1 offering such good help, it has cleaned out my bank account...:lol2:

I appreciate this good help and advice.

Have a great day,
ThomasT
 

ripjack13

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Hello Marc,

Thank you for this contact with John, seems like a really nice guy and has some nice looking tools. I went ahead and placed an order with him for three tools and now looking forward to trying out some of these Carbide style.

Between you and @rocky1 offering such good help, it has cleaned out my bank account...:lol2:

I appreciate this good help and advice.

Have a great day,
ThomasT

You're welcome. Just make sure to post up in that topic, that you have ordered, and when they arrive.
 

ripjack13

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Are you getting handles from him or will you be making your own?
I can find some topics here on how to make and put em together....
 

ThomasT

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Are you getting handles from him or will you be making your own?
I can find some topics here on how to make and put em together....

Hello Marc,

I went ahead and ordered handles from him. I do have my own metal lathe and aluminum stock that I could make the handles but like that grip he adds to his.

Thanks again,
ThomasT
 

ripjack13

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Howdy Thomas,
This is the friction polish I have. It's a small bottle, to see if I liked it. It's pretty good. And smells much much better when applying it than ca does.
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKSWAXLX.html
The larger bottles can be pretty costly...

And this the stuff I use for my acrylic blanks. (Not hybrids though)
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/ONESTEP.html

It works great for me. I use an old flannel shirt cut up into small squares to apply it.
Followed by wax....
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AJWN62/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's a decent price for the size....and its good for everything.
 

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Are you getting handles from him or will you be making your own?
I can find some topics here on how to make and put em together....
If you run across any threads on handle making, please post. I'd appreciate it. I'm sure you'd be much more efficient finding it than myself.
 

ripjack13

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If you run across any threads on handle making, please post. I'd appreciate it. I'm sure you'd be much more efficient finding it than myself.

I'm looking right now....
 

ThomasT

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Howdy Thomas,
This is the friction polish I have. It's a small bottle, to see if I liked it. It's pretty good. And smells much much better when applying it than ca does.
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKSWAXLX.html
The larger bottles can be pretty costly...

And this the stuff I use for my acrylic blanks. (Not hybrids though)
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/ONESTEP.html

It works great for me. I use an old flannel shirt cut up into small squares to apply it.
Followed by wax....
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AJWN62/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's a decent price for the size....and its good for everything.


Hello Marc,

Sure appreciate all this information and your effort.

Have a great day,
ThomasT
 

ThomasT

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I use a roughing gouge and skew to turn my pens and use Capt. Eddie’s shine juice for a friction polish. 1/3 DNA 1/3 BLO and 1/3 shellac.

Edit:
Just watched this video on YouTube #89 O.B. Shine Juice about the "Shine". neat


Hello Lou,

Thanks for this info.

Have a great day,
ThomasT
 
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