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Turning the pen

The pages in this Section will describe how I make this most basic of pens.

This is the "Slim-Line" pen. This one is assembled from the parts kit sold by PSI Products

    Required Accessories
  • 7mm, long mandrel
  • 7mm drill bit
  • 7mm bushing
  • 7mm barrel trimmer #PK-TRIM (PSI optional)
  • 2-part epoxy glue or insta-cure (cyanoacrylate) or Gorilla glue

  1. Make your pen blanks 5/8 or larger

  2. cut blanks to 1/16 longer than the brass barrel in this case 2 1/8

  3. drill the blanks with the drill bit required for the barrel in this case 7mm

  4. Spread glue over the tubes. Insert the tubes into the blanks with a twisting motion to spread the glue evenly inside. Center the tubes lengthwise inside the blanks. I use Gorilla glue as it holds better than CA glue which most recommend

  5. When the glue dries, square the ends of the blanks. Use a 7mm barrel trimmer or belt/disc sander to take the wood down flush to the brass tube. I use the PSI 7mm trimmer barrel tools works very well to cut to the bass barrel

  6. Turning the blanks I place a long 7mm bushing on the mandrel then the 1st blank and another long 7mm busing (maybe 2) then the second wood blank on the mandrel. Then I tighten the mandrel stop bushing and lock nut until I can not turn the wood blanks by hand. Bring the tailstock snug with the mandrel. (Do not over tighten, it could damage the mandrel).

  7. Turn wood down to the bushing and the outside diameter of the center band with chisels and sand paper. Taper the end (follow diagram B for profile) to conform to the cap. Remove tape and use the outside diameter of the band to determine the outside diameter of the blank at that end.