Saw your video for the first time today and I read all the comments too. Impressed with the Cocobolo pen but not once did you or your readers mention that Cocobolo is poisonous! It's dust is a severe irritant so always wear a good mask and safety glasses too. Keep up the good work!
Just tripped across you today - watched video, I too exclusively use carbide tools for all turning. I actually learned with the standard tools back in grade school but that was more than 50 years ago and have learned to appreciate the carbide tools since. I did view the Harrison Specialtys web site their offerings seemed pricey to me. my sanding always starts with 240, 320, 400, 600 (wood) then with acrylic I finish with micro mesh (wet) all the way to 12k. After 4 years of doing this I've only successfully completed a CA finish once - though I observed you used boiled linseed oil with your CA finish, looked like you put the oil on your applicator first then the CA and applied; never heard of that approach looked like it worked well. I use Easy Wood Tools, just the basic three because I mostly do pens or the smaller projects; the circular scraper, the square and the wider of the triangle points. A Tip I learned last year with CA if you have difficulty with it spoiling on you before you finish the bottle - try storing it in the freezer, it won't freeze and it won't spoil either, should last that way I'm told 7 years "shelf life". Just a Refrigerator only extends the shelf life to 5 years! Have Fun, Dave Roush
Great video Steve, I have only just started woodturning myself and I bought a cheap set of chisels they have served me well, but I think I need to look at purchasing some carbide tools. As I can't really afford the traditional chisels. Thanks for sharing.
Been using the carbide cutters for about a year, roughing blanks out with the square cutter and doing the rest with the round. From your video it seems that you have better control of the tool at critical points (nib, cap, center) sticking with "not quite square" cutter. Thanks for the tip. Enjoyed this episode and will look forward to seeing others.
Great video and a very nice pen. Having made a few pens myself I have always used the micromesh sanding pads with water and find I always get a glass like finish. looking forward to your next video. All the best Tony
Hello Steve, thanks for the video. I am beginning to get into wood turning but not sure what tool to buy for turning pens, bowls and lid boxes. There are mini size, mid size and full size tools. Will you guide me which size to buy.
Hi Steve, Thats a real mans pen, looks really nice and not to shiny! The carbide cutter does a great job by the look of your finished product, but one thing puzzles me!! (thats not difficult to puzzle me lol). You say that once the cutter is blunt, just turn it round to the next cutting face! But if you lead into the cutting! (sorry don't know the correct term I'm not a turner... yet) surely the corner of the blade has dullened so you would only be able to use 2 of the 4 carbide cutters! But after saying that, the way you turn and use the carbide cutter obviously works so I would more than likely turn the same way! Can carbides be sharpened? Thanks for sharing, I'm going to subscribe now. Thanks Andy UK
Can you tell me please, when drilling the pen blanks, what's the point of starting with a centering bit when you're using a brad point bit for the hole?
Nice job! How does the boiled linseed oil help with the ca vs. just using ca? Also, do you run the carbide cutter right at centre or higher or lower? Thanks a lot! Lyle
The BLO lubricates the paper towel and seems to give the CA a slightly softer feel, I think. Also helps work as an activator. I try to run the tool rest right on center with the carbide tools.
What is the thing in the drill press you are using to put your pen together? Just got a midi lathe and would want to gather up the tools to get this done. Also can this be done without a chuck? My lathe didn't come with one, just a spur point, a face plate and a live center.
Hah, the thing in my drill press is just a cheap short stubby screwdriver chucked upside down so the plastic handle presses against the pen parts and doesn't acratch them. You can get nice expensive pen presses for this that might be easier tomise, but once you get the hang of using the drill press, it's super easy. Making a pen doesn't use a chuck at all. I use a pen mandrel with a morse taper on it that goes straight into the hole on the headstock. This is by far the most common way. There are some who use other methods, but I have never done differently. You also have to buy bushings specific to the type of pen you want to make to get the pieces the right size.
@@hotrodhog2170 Ahh, right, for drilling, I use a chuck and do it on the lathe. But it can be done just fine on a drill press. Find a clever way to hold the blank on your drill press and it works great.
@@hotrodhog2170 Cut it first, then drill each half. Your drill bit probably won't be long enough for the whole thing without cutting, and most pens need a different size hole for the top and the bottom parts, anyway.
Steve....nice video. One question I have is about the pen press. Did you adapt your drill press into a pen press? I'm just starting out, so I'm trying to find ways I can buy one thing and use it multiple ways, instead of buying a pen press....and a drill press...and this and that....lol.
+Barton Seven I do use my drill press for a pen press. Didn't really have to "adapt" anything, though! I just put a short stubby screwdriver into the chuck of the drill press, and a little piece of hardwood oak on the drill press table, and that's it. It takes a bit of practice to line up the pen reliably each time so you don't get it crooked (which could break it when you press), but it's not hard at all, and it's free! (if you already have a drill press...)
SJWoodworks I ended up getting these two plastic adaptors from Sawdust Brothers that turn your lathe into a pen press. It works pretty well. I've made about 5 pens, and so far so good!
glass house It's addictive! It's a lot of fun. Try a few things, techniques, blanks/pen kits, and see what works best for you. I have found that I like using micro mesh to wet sand to 12,000 grit, and then use car wax as a finish on acrylics. Only made 2 wood pens, and haven't settled on a finish I like yet. Good luck!
Hey, my father knows how to use the lathe but has none. I want to buy him one for his birthday so he can use the lathe again. Do you think it would need a lot of practise to make such a pen if he already knows how to use the lathe? In russia he used the late to make his own wooden poles with ornamentation and stuff. Hope you can help me :)
Hey Steve...with the carbide, do you ever find you damage bushings since it's so much harder? Or maybe your way more skilled than me and never touch the bushings, LOL. Thanks for starting this channel. Going to be great.
Cactus Chris Good question, Chris. At the bushings, I just ease in with the corner slowly and I don't think it has really been a problem. But you're right, if you hit a bushing, you'll damage them for sure. (That said, I think I probably don't take care of my bushings as well as I should!)
Brian, thanks for watching! There are so many different ways, it seems, to apply a CA glue and linseed oil finish. Look around on youtube and you'll find a dozen videos, each with their own way! Maybe someday I'll add a video of my own to cover what I do.
Cocobola is not something I should have started to learn with, had a rough time turning it last night. I'll probably invest in carbide as that's mostly what I use on my metal lathe
I've turned a few pens. I really can't understand why they are so popular. After the first two or three, they get boring. Good, simple beginners project though.
Sweet choice of music. As a jazz musician and new wood worker, I give this video 👍🏻👍🏻. Thanks for the informative video!
Wonderful pen Steve, great job on the video too,
Thanks, Carl. Your videos are an inspiration for sure!
Saw your video for the first time today and I read all the comments too. Impressed with the Cocobolo pen but not once did you or your readers mention that Cocobolo is poisonous!
It's dust is a severe irritant so always wear a good mask and safety glasses too. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, I have not purchased a lathe yet. but am planning on it.
Just tripped across you today - watched video, I too exclusively use carbide tools for all turning. I actually learned with the standard tools back in grade school but that was more than 50 years ago and have learned to appreciate the carbide tools since. I did view the Harrison Specialtys web site their offerings seemed pricey to me. my sanding always starts with 240, 320, 400, 600 (wood) then with acrylic I finish with micro mesh (wet) all the way to 12k. After 4 years of doing this I've only successfully completed a CA finish once - though I observed you used boiled linseed oil with your CA finish, looked like you put the oil on your applicator first then the CA and applied; never heard of that approach looked like it worked well. I use Easy Wood Tools, just the basic three because I mostly do pens or the smaller projects; the circular scraper, the square and the wider of the triangle points. A Tip I learned last year with CA if you have difficulty with it spoiling on you before you finish the bottle - try storing it in the freezer, it won't freeze and it won't spoil either, should last that way I'm told 7 years "shelf life". Just a Refrigerator only extends the shelf life to 5 years! Have Fun, Dave Roush
Great video Steve, I have only just started woodturning myself and I bought a cheap set of chisels they have served me well, but I think I need to look at purchasing some carbide tools. As I can't really afford the traditional chisels. Thanks for sharing.
Paul Johnson I’m a noob too and got one of these recently. They made it really easy, very friendly to use. 👍🏻
Very good video. Would you explaine the CA and Boiled Linseed oil finish please. I've never seen it used before and the finish was beautiful. Thanks
Love the pen, and have always been interested in the carbide tools. Keep the video's coming :D
Thanks for stopping by. We'll have something bigger next week with carbide!
Been using the carbide cutters for about a year, roughing blanks out with the square cutter and doing the rest with the round. From your video it seems that you have better control of the tool at critical points (nib, cap, center) sticking with "not quite square" cutter. Thanks for the tip. Enjoyed this episode and will look forward to seeing others.
Great video and a very nice pen. Having made a few pens myself I have always used the micromesh sanding pads with water and find I always get a glass like finish. looking forward to your next video.
All the best
Tony
Yeah, I've seen the micromesh used for wet sanding as well. I might give that a try sometime. Thanks for the comment!
I use a roughing gouge to get it close then I use a carbide tool similar to what you have to get it to the bushings. Thanks for sharing.
Very good video. Keep up the good work.
Winston Barnett Thanks. I love the carbide pen turner. It seems to go much faster than my spindle gouge does.
Hello Steve, thanks for the video. I am beginning to get into wood turning but not sure what tool to buy for turning pens, bowls and lid boxes. There are mini size, mid size and full size tools. Will you guide me which size to buy.
Hi Steve, Thats a real mans pen, looks really nice and not to shiny! The carbide cutter does a great job by the look of your finished product, but one thing puzzles me!! (thats not difficult to puzzle me lol). You say that once the cutter is blunt, just turn it round to the next cutting face! But if you lead into the cutting! (sorry don't know the correct term I'm not a turner... yet) surely the corner of the blade has dullened so you would only be able to use 2 of the 4 carbide cutters!
But after saying that, the way you turn and use the carbide cutter obviously works so I would more than likely turn the same way! Can carbides be sharpened?
Thanks for sharing, I'm going to subscribe now.
Thanks
Andy
UK
what handle is on your carbide cutter as I don't see it on the Harrison web site
Can you tell me please, when drilling the pen blanks, what's the point of starting with a centering bit when you're using a brad point bit for the hole?
I have the same lathe and it seems like I cant get close enough to the pen blank with my tool rest,,do you have the same problem
Good looking pen. Nice video. I just made a Cocobolo pen and I agree it is some nice looking wood.
I would like a little more info on your BLO and CA glue.. are you mixing it on the pad before you apply or what
Jerald Mitchell No mixing. BLO first to act as a lubricant and an accelerator, then a strip of CA glue on top of that.
Nice job! How does the boiled linseed oil help with the ca vs. just using ca?
Also, do you run the carbide cutter right at centre or higher or lower?
Thanks a lot! Lyle
The BLO lubricates the paper towel and seems to give the CA a slightly softer feel, I think. Also helps work as an activator.
I try to run the tool rest right on center with the carbide tools.
+SJWoodworks thanks much... keep up good work
What is the thing in the drill press you are using to put your pen together? Just got a midi lathe and would want to gather up the tools to get this done. Also can this be done without a chuck? My lathe didn't come with one, just a spur point, a face plate and a live center.
Hah, the thing in my drill press is just a cheap short stubby screwdriver chucked upside down so the plastic handle presses against the pen parts and doesn't acratch them. You can get nice expensive pen presses for this that might be easier tomise, but once you get the hang of using the drill press, it's super easy.
Making a pen doesn't use a chuck at all. I use a pen mandrel with a morse taper on it that goes straight into the hole on the headstock. This is by far the most common way. There are some who use other methods, but I have never done differently. You also have to buy bushings specific to the type of pen you want to make to get the pieces the right size.
@@SJWoodworks I thought you used a chuck to drill the hole. Can it be done without a chuck?
@@hotrodhog2170 Ahh, right, for drilling, I use a chuck and do it on the lathe. But it can be done just fine on a drill press. Find a clever way to hold the blank on your drill press and it works great.
@@SJWoodworks Should I drill it as one piece or cut it to size then drill both halves?
@@hotrodhog2170 Cut it first, then drill each half. Your drill bit probably won't be long enough for the whole thing without cutting, and most pens need a different size hole for the top and the bottom parts, anyway.
Nice vid! Walt sent me over.
Welcome, kbbacon. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Just one question where did you get the pen blank looks nice and what was it called. Thanks again
vjc4 cocobolo...woodcraft.com
Steve....nice video. One question I have is about the pen press. Did you adapt your drill press into a pen press? I'm just starting out, so I'm trying to find ways I can buy one thing and use it multiple ways, instead of buying a pen press....and a drill press...and this and that....lol.
+Barton Seven I do use my drill press for a pen press. Didn't really have to "adapt" anything, though! I just put a short stubby screwdriver into the chuck of the drill press, and a little piece of hardwood oak on the drill press table, and that's it. It takes a bit of practice to line up the pen reliably each time so you don't get it crooked (which could break it when you press), but it's not hard at all, and it's free! (if you already have a drill press...)
Nice work!..I want to get in to pen turning..I clocked the stubby ..Nice one..;-0)..Best wishes from the U.K.
SJWoodworks I ended up getting these two plastic adaptors from Sawdust Brothers that turn your lathe into a pen press. It works pretty well. I've made about 5 pens, and so far so good!
glass house It's addictive! It's a lot of fun. Try a few things, techniques, blanks/pen kits, and see what works best for you. I have found that I like using micro mesh to wet sand to 12,000 grit, and then use car wax as a finish on acrylics. Only made 2 wood pens, and haven't settled on a finish I like yet.
Good luck!
Hey, my father knows how to use the lathe but has none. I want to buy him one for his birthday so he can use the lathe again. Do you think it would need a lot of practise to make such a pen if he already knows how to use the lathe? In russia he used the late to make his own wooden poles with ornamentation and stuff. Hope you can help me :)
muy buen trabajo👌👏👍
Hey Steve...with the carbide, do you ever find you damage bushings since it's so much harder? Or maybe your way more skilled than me and never touch the bushings, LOL. Thanks for starting this channel. Going to be great.
Cactus Chris Good question, Chris. At the bushings, I just ease in with the corner slowly and I don't think it has really been a problem. But you're right, if you hit a bushing, you'll damage them for sure. (That said, I think I probably don't take care of my bushings as well as I should!)
Love the finish on the pen, can you give more info on the c, a and boiled linseed, great video, will be back for more.
Brian, thanks for watching! There are so many different ways, it seems, to apply a CA glue and linseed oil finish. Look around on youtube and you'll find a dozen videos, each with their own way! Maybe someday I'll add a video of my own to cover what I do.
Cocobola is not something I should have started to learn with, had a rough time turning it last night. I'll probably invest in carbide as that's mostly what I use on my metal lathe
Hey steve I had to subscribe again cause UA-cam unsubscribed me for some reason
I use a Zebra Z grip pen to make turned pens' Anybody else doing this?
I've turned a few pens. I really can't understand why they are so popular. After the first two or three, they get boring. Good, simple beginners project though.