Problem Pen Turning

If the whole blank is turning on the mandrel, "very tight" might not be tight enough. Worst case, use some tape on one end of the blank to get the other end turned, then move the tape and do the other end, until it's at least round and smooth and you can get by with lighter cuts.

Make sure the mandrel is free of oil or other lubricants.

Make sure you use the barrel trimmer enough that the exposed end of the brass tube is flat and shiny.

If the wood is turning on the brass tubes, sand the brass tubes with 80 grit before gluing so the glue has something to grab on to.

Assuming you have bushings mounted also? Just checking, as it's hard to mount the blank without bushings... Other than that, I'd suggest a higher speed, maybe 1,200 or more if that's comfortable... Use very little chisel pressure, especially when the blank is still square...

Two "musts" in turning anything are LIGHT CUTS and SHARP TOOLS...

Mac Davis snipped-for-privacy@bajawoodcraft.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Thanks to both of you who replied. I did a little digging and trial and error (lots of errors!)and figured out most of what I was doing wrong. The most relevant thing was turning speed. A reference I read on a web site said to start at a slow speed when roughing the blanks, thus 800 RPM. Another site said "as fast as possible", so I went up to about 3400 RPM. Worked wonders. That, and removing a couple of bushings so that there was only one at either end and one in between the blank halves, seems to have done the trick.

Yes, I turn most pens at 3,000... The slower the speed, the longer the corners are exposed, if that makes any sense. You have to adjust as you learn, I was taught "As fast as you're comfortable with"

I hope you have many happy years of wood turning... "Do a good turn every day" Mac

Is it possible that the glue on the brass has failed and the blank easily stops when the tool is applied?

Dave Leader snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

David,

Thanks for the reply, even if it's a little late :-). That was indeed the problem, as I eventually found out. I'm now being a lot more careful to rough up the blank than I was and and to use a sufficient amount of glue. I also found out that Gorilla brand CA doesn't appear to hold as well as other brands.

Alan

I learned a trick? from another pen turner online. Since you have the bushings out ready to use anyway.... why not put the brass tubes on the lathe and rough them up with sand paper whilst spinning slow speed. After 10 years of pen making this old dog learned a new trick. Easy peasy and works well every time. Also, a lot of pen makers prefer glues to CA.

Dave

Dave Leader snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

Now, this is what the net is for! Thanks for the tip, Dave. I've been sanding the tubes by hand like I imagine 99% of pen turners do but this sounds like a great idea.

Alan