Wow! what a lovely little project, I like the idea of using up the odds and sods, the different wood types give a real variety to the finish. Colwin as usual provides lots of information and instruction. A really good watch.
I am currently learning how to make pens and i don't have a lathe, sanding machine or pen press so right now i am using basic tools and methods, but hopefully in the near future i can purchase these machines and make higher quality pens. Cheers for this video!
Chances are if you mix the blocks up long enough they will eventually be unmixed again. Takes a long time I guess. Maybe more time than I got. Thanks for the video. I'll be welcoming an upgraded Axi lathe to me home soon!
Excellent video Colwyn, thoroughly enjoyed it. Question though, do you get any issues with the water over wetting the wood when you are wet sanding. Or could you use mineral oil?
Yes, Colwin did make a sanding table. He says: "I did make the sanding table out of the following parts, 101833 tool post to suit your lathe, 104451 mounting plate, which screws into the tool post, then just add a piece of ply or MDF." Hope this helps :)
I just made half a dozen pens as small ‘tree presents’. They are always well received and admired. I never thought of using acrylic for DIY pen blanks. Must try that out. Question: you sanded the blank - do you not protect the wood with a finish? On wooden blanks I have been using super glue which works well.
Hi Bill, Glad to hear your pens are popular. Regarding the finish, Colwin says: "Yes you can add a finish and as you say a super glue finish works well as does finishing oil on a combination like this."
Thank you Colwin I think this is going to be my next project. What are your thoughts on using just carbide tools to turn this type of pen blank. Derek GIBBS from King’s Lynn Mens Shed
Thanks Derek. Colwin says "Carbide tipped tools work really well on this project. In fact carbide is the chosen tool for resin, I would go for the small carbide tools". Hope that helps :)
Hi there, pressure pots are generally used on bigger projects to shrink air bubbles out of sight and draw the resin into the small voids that would be taken by air pockets. Vacuum chambers work slightly differently and are used for smaller projects such as pen blanks. Vacuum takes away any air and is good for projects that require the resin to be drawn into the timber and so are often used for stabilising wood. Hope that helps.
If you were turning a tubeless pen kit between centres, I.E. with no mandrel, what centres would you recommend. I am tending to either split blanks through over compressing them or if not compressend enough any attempt at making cuts just results in the blank staying still while the lathe keeps spinning. Or, would you recommend a mandrel for this type of kit? It's a one piece, 8cm blank fully drilled through.
Hi Andy, Colwin says: "I would go for a mandrel first, but alternatively go for a light pull drive (www.axminstertools.com/axminster-imperial-light-pull-drive-2mt-950366), this has a series of stepped diameters with a chamfer at each and perfect for turning projects with a pre drilled hole." Hope that helps!
The wood scraps look very ‘prepared’. How did you get them ready, if I might ask? Totally new to turning here (one pen and one bowl under my belt so far). I’d love to give something like that a try!
Hi there, These were corners cut from another project, but all that was done to prep after they were cut was to clean off any woolly fibres! Hope this helps.
Hi Joseph, Colwin used Americana Pen Kit (part no 800382 - bit.ly/3WXDb1k) and the Empress Pen Kit (part no 951810 - bit.ly/3Iu254e) Hope this helps :)
Hi Michael we go live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3pm UK time. Hope that helps. Don't forget to hit subscribe and allow notifications to stay up to date on all our latest videos.
The resin in this video was Ecopoxy Resin which we no longer stock. We do however currently stock Entropy Resins available here axminster.tools/3zB01oX
Well, it's a year later and almost Christmas again. I will definitely be making some of these for my gifting list. The pens look amazing!
Glad to hear you feel inspired by this video and good luck with your pens! 🙂
Wonderful process to make the blanks from bits. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
Thanks for the feedback and for watching 😊
Wow! what a lovely little project, I like the idea of using up the odds and sods, the different wood types give a real variety to the finish. Colwin as usual provides lots of information and instruction. A really good watch.
Thanks and Blessings for you and your family
And all your followers
I really enjoyed this Colwyn and learnt loads. Thanks
Excellent demonstration!
Superb as always, great skilled turning and beautiful results. Thanks for sharing this video 🙏🏼
Thank you for your kind feedback.
I am currently learning how to make pens and i don't have a lathe, sanding machine or pen press so right now i am using basic tools and methods, but hopefully in the near future i can purchase these machines and make higher quality pens. Cheers for this video!
Thank you
Chances are if you mix the blocks up long enough they will eventually be unmixed again. Takes a long time I guess. Maybe more time than I got. Thanks for the video. I'll be welcoming an upgraded Axi lathe to me home soon!
Maravilha show de bola parabéns
NICE
Excellent video Colwyn, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Question though, do you get any issues with the water over wetting the wood when you are wet sanding. Or could you use mineral oil?
Great video.vety informative.
Did you make the sanding table? Is there a video on making one. Thanks much.
Yes, Colwin did make a sanding table. He says: "I did make the sanding table out of the following parts, 101833 tool post to suit your lathe, 104451 mounting plate, which screws into the tool post, then just add a piece of ply or MDF." Hope this helps :)
Did you use a bandsaw or table saw to cut the blanks.Beautiful results
This was cut on a bandsaw. Hope this helps!
I just made half a dozen pens as small ‘tree presents’. They are always well received and admired. I never thought of using acrylic for DIY pen blanks. Must try that out.
Question: you sanded the blank - do you not protect the wood with a finish? On wooden blanks I have been using super glue which works well.
Hi Bill, Glad to hear your pens are popular. Regarding the finish, Colwin says: "Yes you can add a finish and as you say a super glue finish works well as does finishing oil on a combination like this."
Thank you Colwin I think this is going to be my next project. What are your thoughts on using just carbide tools to turn this type of pen blank. Derek GIBBS from King’s Lynn Mens Shed
Thanks Derek. Colwin says "Carbide tipped tools work really well on this project. In fact carbide is the chosen tool for resin, I would go for the small carbide tools". Hope that helps :)
Wonderful! thank you!
Is it ok to use soft wood for the pen?
Great blanks. Did you use a pressure pot? Why do people use pressure pots for resin blanks?
Hi there, pressure pots are generally used on bigger projects to shrink air bubbles out of sight and draw the resin into the small voids that would be taken by air pockets. Vacuum chambers work slightly differently and are used for smaller projects such as pen blanks. Vacuum takes away any air and is good for projects that require the resin to be drawn into the timber and so are often used for stabilising wood. Hope that helps.
If you were turning a tubeless pen kit between centres, I.E. with no mandrel, what centres would you recommend. I am tending to either split blanks through over compressing them or if not compressend enough any attempt at making cuts just results in the blank staying still while the lathe keeps spinning. Or, would you recommend a mandrel for this type of kit? It's a one piece, 8cm blank fully drilled through.
Hi Andy, Colwin says: "I would go for a mandrel first, but alternatively go for a light pull drive (www.axminstertools.com/axminster-imperial-light-pull-drive-2mt-950366), this has a series of stepped diameters with a chamfer at each and perfect for turning projects with a pre drilled hole." Hope that helps!
The wood scraps look very ‘prepared’. How did you get them ready, if I might ask? Totally new to turning here (one pen and one bowl under my belt so far). I’d love to give something like that a try!
Hi there, These were corners cut from another project, but all that was done to prep after they were cut was to clean off any woolly fibres! Hope this helps.
Hi, very nice, but can you please tell me what is the of pen you used in the video.😃
Hi Joseph, Colwin used Americana Pen Kit (part no 800382 - bit.ly/3WXDb1k) and the Empress Pen Kit (part no 951810 - bit.ly/3Iu254e) Hope this helps :)
what time UK time do you go live when you do live shows ??
Hi Michael we go live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3pm UK time. Hope that helps. Don't forget to hit subscribe and allow notifications to stay up to date on all our latest videos.
What resent do yous
The resin in this video was Ecopoxy Resin which we no longer stock. We do however currently stock Entropy Resins available here axminster.tools/3zB01oX
You could show us how to cut up these blanks.