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Pen Turning The program for December was shared by Bill Reynolds and Jim Zitz who presented and demonstrated how to make pens on the lathe. Bill discussed the tools and materials necessary and gave some insight into how to get the wood blocks drilled and squared off. Inserting and gluing the brass tubing with cyanoacrylate glue was covered along with a warning to keep your hands out of it or you would likely lose some skin. Sources for supplies were also discussed and catalogs passed around for everyone to look at. A number of vendors supply tools, mandrels, wood, and the pen parts themselves. Many are available as kits. Jim demonstrated the entire process of making a pen from start to finish. He turned the blocks to shape and size emphasizing the need to have no discrepancy where the wood meets the bushings on the turning mandrel. This is because the bushing diameter matches the pen hardware so when the pen is assembled it will be a finished product ready to sell or use as a gift. Jim used sanding sponges in a prescribed series of grits (do not skip any) to sand the wood before finishing. He likes to use a drop or two of cyanoacrylate glue on a paper towel applied to the spinning blank as a sealer for the wood. Caution is necessary as you can glue the pen blank to the bushings. He polishes with a fine abrasive in a prepared product to enhance gloss and finally uses a French polish of a shellac base to protect the final product. The pen was assembled with a special press and the fittings installed.
Next meeting: January 11 at 7PM at the Opdahl building. Carl Ford will demonstrate vacuum chucks.
Jim Zitz and Bill Reynolds discuss tools and materials for pen turning.
Jim Zitz turns a pen blank.
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