How to make a Herringbone Pen Blank
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Since I last made a herringbone pen blank video for a collaboration with Zac Higgins, I have made some improvements to the process that make building the blank much easier. In this video I want to share my new techniques in hopes that they will benefit you if you decide to make one of these intricate and beautiful blanks.
Some of my captions moved locations when I saved the file for UA-cam. I had already deleted the raw footage when I discovered the issue. I apologize but I think the video still make sense.
Regards,
Bob Blanford
Zac Higgins Collaboration: • Herringbone Blank usin...
Facebook: / 992853487406788
E-Mail: RJBWoodturner@yahoo.com - Навчання та стиль
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I have made a few herringbone pens with some success. I think using the aluminum angle will be very helpful. Thank you for your videos they are very helpful. Your projects are always beautiful.
Thank you Ken.
Regards,
Bob
Man, that is a great looking pen. Segmented turning take a lot of patience and skill, you sure make it look easy. Thanks for sharing the video. Take care, David
+David Clauson Thank you David,
The AL angle really simplifies the blank and it's way faster and less messy too. It doesn't hake near the patience as it
use to. I hope you give one a try.
Regards,
Bob
Great looking pen well done 👌👍
Thank you William.
Regards,
Bob
Wow, Bob, excellent video and technique.
+Scott L Thank you Scott.
Regards,
Bob
Hi Bob, I love your back catalouge. I'm going to make an Omega Fountain Pen for someone and I knew where to look for guidance. Your channel. Take care Bob. Cheers, Huw
Thank you Huw,
I really appreciate you’re endorsement.
Regards
Bob
Wow Bob, that's a real labor of love. Really detailed work, requires a lot of patience. Great pen at the end!
+Bob Amarant Thank you Bob.
Regards,
Bob
Beautiful video, Bob.
You've explained the manufacture of a fishing tackles pattern very good and detailed, you've got to pay attention wodrauf also said is (shifted middle).
Through your "instructions", each capable of producing a herringbone pattern for a pen almost now.
+Günter Schöne Thank you Günter,
Regards,
Bob
brilliant love your pen blanks must know get into the shop and have a go at making some
up thanks for sharing top man
+brian thompson Thank you Brian.
Try cutting this one on the 45 that way when you turn, it's all end grain.
Regards,
Bob
Rob very nice video and easy to follow techniques, I could see making this in the near future. Added to my must make list. Thanks for sharing.
+John Fisher Thank you John,
I hope you do give it a try, the AL angle really simplified making the blanks.
Regards,
Bob
Beautiful pen Bob. Well done on the process from beginning to end.
+Nigel Morrow Thank you Nigel.
Regards,
Bob
That turned (pun!) out beautiful! It does look very straightforward to do.
+J.L.M. Thank you,
The AL angle really makes it simple.
Regards,
Bob
Thanks for all these excellent videos Bob, you deserve more subscribers.
+GargamelGoest Thank you,
I appreciate that.
Regards,
Bob
Hi Rob.
Super looking design on the finished pen.
Cheers
Paul
+SCCFORUM Thank you Paul.
Regards,
Bob
Beautiful pen and great instructions, thumbs up Rob.
+OG Timbercraft Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
Brilliant video Bob, thanks for sharing your excellent method
Cheers
Mike
+Mike Waldt Thank you Mike.
Regards,
Bob
Great work Bob....the finished pen looks awesome I like that pen kit.
+Robert Evans Thank you Robert,
Tonight's video is the process of turning the blank. There is some good information in it.
Regards,
Bob
MASHAALLAH khub valo video......
😃
Bob! Thanks for sharing another great pen build. I was especially happy you shared how to center the tube in the blank. I haven't had much interest in the herringbone designs because I was not confident I could drill down the center of the blank. Maybe now.
+Jim Nottingham Thank you Jim,
Let me know how it goes if you attempt one. I'd also love to see a photo.
Regards,
Bob
Thaks for this video. I tried with little success to make this type of blank but got disgusted with the poor results. I was trying to glue uo all the pieces at the same time while you only glue 2 at a a time then stack the doubles. I think I'll have another go at this. thanks again.
I’m happy you found my video useful. I hope you have better luck in the next attempt.
Regards,
Bob
Bob, love the aluminum angle idea, great tutorial.
+Frank Doyle Thank you Frank,
I've been getting some pretty consistent segments since I started making them that way.
Regards,
Bob
what an amazing take on such a simple idea (segmented pens)! outstanding
+Life0fHouston. Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
Wow Rob! You are sooooo creative!
+Steve Brown Thank you Steve,
Regards,
Bob
Nice job , the pen looks great . Your new jig seems to be working well. Take care.
+glen mckelvey Thank you Glen,
I'm happy with the new sled.
Regards,
Bob
With videos like this, i feel i could do it too. Except that i dont really have that much patience. Nice work!
+Willem Kossen Hello Willem,
You really should give it a try, the aluminum angle speeds up and simplifies the project.
Regards,
Bob
You could buy old scrabble tiles for this. Solid parquet hardwood flooring might work too. both of these objects are just about the right size. awesome pen blanks.
+Joseph Chase Hello Joseph,
Both would work well and I've recently seen people using scrabble tiles.
Regards,
Bob
Looks nice Bob!
+Peter Matthew Thank you Peter.
Regards,
Bob
Great video Rob,the pen came out really nice,great finish,great design
Atb
+MrSkooty1968 Thank you.
The turning video comes out tonight.
Regards,
Bob
Great instructional video Bob I'll have to give it a try. One problem I had was when trying to slice purple heart my bandsaw blade would drift, I'll have to work on that part.
+Rob Evans Thank you Rob,
Purple Heart is always a challenge to diet with. I'm sure you will figure it out.
Regards,
Bob
Great vid! How you don't mind but I shared it on Facebook in a pen turning group!
+Alaric Medlock I don't mind at all, actually I really appreciate you sharing it. Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
Wonderful work. Great video also with excellent information.
+Stephen Ogle Thank you Stephen.
Regards,
Bob
Hi Bob, thats a nice looking pen, i am finding that a barrel trimmer is sometimes not the best tool for some blanks and i now use a sanding disk with much better results with no fear of tear out, regards Dave
+Dave NE Hello Dave,
I occasionally use my sanding disk and I even have a jig for sanding blanks. I haven't turned a pen in so long that I forgot about it. I'll use it when I turn the seam ripper blank. Thank you for reminding me, that will be way less aggressive.
Regards,
Bob
Just wondering if it would make the sled better to put a removable fence that lines up to the 3/4 inch mark? Some 1/2 inch thick board or aluminum for the fence that could be screwed down? It would make it easier when making the final cuts on the blanks. Just a thought.
Great idea Owen,
I think it would make it faster and better.
Regards,
Bob
Awesome!! 👍
Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
thanks... the pen turned out greaT!!!
+Matt Sosnowski Thank you Matt,
I'm glad you liked the video.
Regards,
Bob
nice video.excellent idea of the aluminium attachment, thank you. i did a few of this pens. about the drilling in center for the brass tube: i did it like so: first i turned the blank round, then i drilled in the middle on the lathe and then put the brass tube. correct me if i am wrong. excuse me for my bad english.
+alfredo leiser Thank you Alfredo,
Your English was perfect and your method for drilling the tube is too.
Regards,
Bob
Thank you for the instructions. I am going to attempt this for a bottle opener.
You had a concern while clamping that too much pressure would throw off the 90 degree angle. What if you were to cut two short pieces of the aluminum angle and use them between the blank and the clamp. In my mind this should help to keep the clamps from spreading the pieces apart and throwing off the angle as the clamp would have a harder time distorting the aluminum.
+Todd Cottengim That is a great idea Todd,
I may try that. Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
You have done a great job Bob.
Do you have a youtube on the cutting sled for table saw and band saw?
I am going to do the herring bone soon.
+Spencer Brown Hello Spencer,
It took me a bit to locate them both but here they are:
ua-cam.com/video/BuVgm9z-Zb8/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/6A1g7w0W0ws/v-deo.html
Regards,
Bob
What is the advantage of working with 3/4x3/4 pieces during the glue up. Would it work to glue up 3/4 x 3 inch (or some other length divisible by 3/4 + a bit for kerf) then cut out blanks?
+Troy Campbell That would work but the additional lengths would be laminated materials without the interlock. However, you could do all sorts of things with them. I think this idea has merit and is defiantly worth looking into.
Regards,
Bob
Great videos, is there any way you can make a how to for a fish scale pattern? Only way I can think is a scalloped, but there are no videos from anyone doing it all the way up the blank. Thank you sir!
Thank you for the suggestion, I’m currently out of the shop for an extended period of time. I’ll see what I can do when I return.
Regards,
Bob
RJBWoodTurner thank you for your response, safe travels
I am having troubles getting a good, clean cut 1/4 from my bandsaw. Do you have a few pictures of your band saw jig from different angles?
+Jerry Janik Hello Jerry,
I missed this post and found it today. I'll take some photos this evening for you.
Regards,
Bob
Thanks!
Jerry, Here is a short video I shot tonight on the sled and uploaded to my second channel. It won't actually be released until 8:00 AM Wednesday morning but this link should let you take an early peak at it. ua-cam.com/video/DP5s1CbgNqER/v-deo.htmlegards,Bob
Boy, that is a super looking pen! I really appreciate your videos. They cause me to have all sorts of ideas. Why the use of tite bond? Just wondering.
+Tarry Frey For a wood to wood glue up, there's not much better than Titebond. If the wood breaks apart, it will never be at the glue joint. It's less messy and you will never glue your fingers together with it either. It's also less expensive than C/A.
Regards,
Bob
Maybe some paste wax on the aluminum would help with sticking?
Possibly. I don’t remember the situation. Been a long time, LOL.
Regards,
Bob
I like to expreriment , you are giving me an opportunity , thank you for the inspiration
+melkoebes Thank you for watching,
I'm working on a new blank right now that should be very interesting and the best part is the cuts don't have to be super precise.
Bob
smart and elegant
+Erik Anderson Thank you Eric.
Regards,
Bob
This is brilliant, Bob! Many thanks for showing us how you did this. I think even a novice like me could try this. I have a question: - Do the sides of the blanks you use have to be perfectly square and flat?
I look forward to seeing your demo at the IKI Woodturner's meeting.
Thanks, Mike
+Michael Koehne Hello Mike,
Yes, at least one side on each blank must be square. That's the side that is glued to the second piece. The second piece must also have at least one square side because when you interlock the segments they need to be square.
I hope that helps, if not, we can talk more at the meeting.
Regards,
Bob
could not find the "pin wheel" video but have a comment on makein g it easier.....
I ;make a long 3/4 blank of each color of wood. set my chops saw to 30 degrees. cut it and move it to my band saw slet set to just hit the 30 degree andge. make as man 30 degree wedges and glue together. so much easier than sanding the angle on theme. worked great.
Great technique Steve, there’s always another way. 😃 keep Creating blanks and turning pens.
Like that pen design Bob. My address is.........
What kind of time do you have in making a 5" blank? JimE
+Jim E Maybe an hour if you cut out drying time.
Regards,
Bob
Good stuff ty.hagd
Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
What is the term jointed mean? What kind of machine is that?
A jointer puts a perfectly flat side on a board. Usually two sides are jointed then the board is run through a planer or table saw to clean up the other sides.
Regards,
Bob
RJBWoodTurner
I'm fortunate for your explanations. Thank you very much.
As a time saver pour some glue into a small paper cup (dixie style) and then use a brush to dab and spread onto the wood.
+AJ WoodWorking Nice tip AJ,
Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
marking orientation lines and placing the segments in sequence would have made this pen even better than it already is, good video, hope you like my suggestion.
Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
your arm is looking great too. Aloe Vera and Vitamin E are your best friends at this point. By fall it will just be a learning memory.😉
+Marcy Cooper Thank you Marcy,
I was very lucky that it wasn't worse.
Regards,
Bob
Why not just use CA glue instead of waiting for glue to dry?
You can use C/A but it becomes brittle when it dries. If you drop the pen it can split at the C/A glue up. This is why C/A is used for temporary wood bonds and people will use a chisel and hammer to split the wood at the bond.
Wood glue is stronger than the wood and will never split at the glue up point.
Regards,
Bob
@@RJBWoodTurner good to know. Thanks.
is it me or is the audio low? Nice tutorial
+Summers Woodworking I'll have to go back and listen to it, I thought is sounded ok when I put it together.
Regards,
Bob
ok bro
+RJBWoodTurner i think it was my computer you sound fine on my phone.
+Summers Woodworking Thanks for letting me know, I was worried and could't get to it right away. I feel better now. I hope you can get your computer working properly.
Regards,
Bob
Summers Woodworking ;
That pen really looks great and by the way, what's wrong with a 20 minute video? TV shows run from 30 minutes to an hour and I watch many videos that run up to 53 minutes not to mention I watch NASCAR races up to 4 hours at times. I would gladly watch a turning video 30 minutes long. Oh well, what ever you do I'll watch it.
God Bless my friend.
+Frank Ingram Thank you Frank,
I've been trying to shorten my videos because the average watch time is around 6 - 7 minutes. It stinks to put all the effort into a 20 minute video and only 1/3rd of it gets viewed.
I truly appreciate people like you who watch the whole video and take the time to comment. That is why I do this. Thank you.
Regards,
Bob
Great idea, using the aluminum angle for assembly.
Have you ever considered using "hot hide glue" for assembling the blank. ua-cam.com/video/AAmI4ncKQwU/v-deo.html
I haven't found reference to anyone using it for segmented pens, but it seems like it might have some advantages, ie rubbed joint/no clamping. fast setup, as the glue drys it actually pulls the joint tighter, does not affect stain/finish. easy cleanup with water.
So using with the aluminum angle you could probably just clothes pin the lower pieces and then do rub joint for the second pieces, Assembling the angles into a blank would most likely not need clamping at all.
Might be worth experimenting with. :-)
Ron
+333rpd I've never really thought about hide glue,
I'll have to look into it. Thank you for mentioning it.
Regards,
Bob
Cool. BTW, who the hell gets upset over using your finger to spread glue??? Seriously? Of all the things to get worked up about!
+Sig Guy I agree,
I could see if it was C/A but I don't think there's anything really bad with Titebond II or Gorilla wood glue.
Regards,
Bob
RJBWoodTurner
Agreed. I sure as heck wouldn't use my finger to spread CA. I happen to like my fingers...;o)
+Sig Guy LOL,
Bad example.
Regards,
Bob
I use my fingers to spread glue as well😂 The glue is nontoxic so people bitchin about using your fingers to spread it are the overly cautious type.
Thank you.
I may not show it but I still spread glue with my fingers sometime.
Regards,
Bob
Clamp the vice to the drill table, you have vice creep, so many people make this mistake.
+alfred william Thank you,
Regards,
Bob