how do you drill a pen blank on lathe?

Put the Jacobs Chuck (and drillbit) in the tailstock, and grip the wood with your NovaChuck. You may have to saw the block in half, because the bit can't reach the bottom of the full blank.

I'd second that. Thinking about it, I probably do 2/3 of my turning with those jaws, bottle stoppers, spurtles, small face plate turnings and probably a whole bunch of other less frequent chores.

If your jaws are too large, is there a possability that you could place some shim stock between the pen blank and the jaws? You would have to shim it on all 4 sides, but that might give you enough for the jaws to grip.

Hi Bob

Bob do you have a drill press ? If so, you could build a jigg to drill the blanks > I'm on so many meds I can't think straight anymore, but my heart keeps on > ticking! >

Probably a lot of people will tell me that I'm risking life and limb but this system works for me. I've never even gotten a scratch while drilling this way.

First, put a Jacobs chuck with the appropriate size BRAD point bit in the headstock. Put a live center with a good sharp point in the tailstock.

Mark the centers on both ends of the blank and dimple the spot with an awl.

Suspend the blank between to points of the bit and the live center.

Put a heavy glove on your 'holding' hand. I'm right handed so I tend to hold with my left hand. I use a heavy leather work glove.

Hold the blank in place, start the lathe and feed the blank into the bit with the tailstock screw. Drill as always clearing chips often and don't try feeding too fast, overheating the blank.

When I've nearly come through the blank, I stop and put a small piece of scrap 1/4" plywood between the tailstock and the blank. Keep drilling until the bit breaks through into the plywood.

I've drilled ebony, bloodwood, walnut, Osage orange and a bunch of others this way and with (knock wood) 100% success.

if you have a mortising chisel/bit; then try drilling between two clamped boards so that a square hole is formed between them. if you drill holes through them and insert a bolt with a wing nut and washer, then only one clamp would be necessary and the wing nut would allow you to tighten up on the pen blank that would go into the square hole when drilling. this should give you the vertical alignment of the square hole and you won't have to worry about drilling the bolt holes in line with each other.

however, the above may not work if mortising chisel/bits won't drill between boards. rich

Bill,

How do you get the hole in it? Do you use two Jacob chucks?

I sent a message thanking all that had posted but it never came thru. Glad it didn't because there were additional postings when I looked tonight.

There are some good ideas here and I think I can bring off drilling on a lathe. I had seen it done but couldn't remember where or how. Harry Pye's idea jogged my memory on both accounts.

But there are several great ideas here and I will give several a try to be sure I comfortable with the one I choose to use.

Thanks to all!