How to turn a pen

The Tools

You do not necessarily need all the tools as displayed below, but it sure does make the job easier.

• Drill press You will need a proper drill press.
• Pen Blank Centering Vise The the pen blank centering vice is optional but it does help to drill the holes properly into the blank for the pen.
• Vise A vise is required to clamp down the blank to cut it into the proper sizes for the top and bottom parts of the pen.
• Lathe This is essential to turn pens from wood or acrylic or any other turnable material
• Chisel This is another essential piece of equipment as you will need this to work down the pen material on the lathe.
• Sanding disc This is also optional but it does help to smooth and square the ends of the blank before you start turning

STEP 1 Pen kit:

Pen kits are bought separately from your local supplier. Ensure all pieces are in the kit before you start. Lay out all the pieces and ensure you know how it all fits together.

Measure the correct sizes for the barrels. Leave 1-2 mm on either side as this will be trimmed later. Also ensure you mark the pieces for a “T” Top and “B” Bottom half of the pen as you want to fit the pieces in this sequence to have a professional flowing finish on your pen.

STEP 2 Cutting to correct size:

Cut the pieces to size and lay them out again on your work bench.

STEP 3 Drilling the holes:

Clamp the blanks into the centre vise and drill holes into the 2 pieces as close to the centre as possible.

STEP 4 Sanding and gluing:

Be sure to rough the barrels before applying glue. This will ensure the barrel sticks to the blanks. Insert the barrels into the blanks and allow to dry.

Now you can sand off the excess edges until you touch the barrels. Making sure you sand at a right angle.

STEP 5 Roughing:

Now you can assemble the blanks onto the mandrel using the correct bushings for the type of pen you want to turn.

Using your roughing chisel Work down the blank to almost the correct size/thickness.

STEP 6 Sanding & Polishing:

Use different grids of sandpaper to work down excess material on the blank. Once you are satisfied with the sanding you can apply polishing liquid while the lathe is turning.

STEP 7 Assembly:

Once you are satisfied with the polishing you may start to assemble the pen.

The job is made easier with this Pen Assembly kit.

STEP 8 Finished product:

Once the pen is assembled you will end up with the finished product.