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I use a small round file to smooth off the adges

Hi Ed; Good one! I make 7mm "sleeves" when I use the pen mill. I don't do that often because I use a sanding jig to square up the blank ends. I then chamfer the blank ends with a reloading tool to chamfer the ends of the blank. This relieves stress and make pressing the fittings in easier.

Ed, Mark, and John; I turned a Holly blank for a Slim-Line pen and it was so bland I decided to try to color the wood. I used a Neon Yellow highlighter and planned to coat it with CA. As soon as the CA touched the colored blank the bright yellow turned a Cherry Red color. It turned out awesome. A big surprise. I can't explain why this happened, I'm guessing some chemical reaction.

I thought you were going to cut it the ring in the vise, that you didn't made me think about "why not?" Aside from simplicity, there is the advantage that snap-cracking the ring results in a glue joint that is unlikely to be a STRAIGHT line. Straight lines draw the eye more than irregular lines.

Thanks John. This series is fantastic. Lots of ideas and good advice.

John do you have a video on how to do the carbon fiber tube that’s on this pen?

Thanks for explaining why you used construction paper instead of paint. Great video!

Excellent tutorial! I've made a few custom finials, pretty much the same method. My favorite is with wood blanks, using the matching cutoff so the grain flows over the top of the pen. I look forward to the center band video. Take care!

Thanks, John. Great tip.

Hi John, any reason you used CA instead of UV resin? That final shot OMG is that stunning. Nice work thanks for the ideas.

I bought 3 of those a little while ago. They came out great. I used a negative rake carbide cutter which worked out perfectly.

Great video. I will try some of those on my next order.

What’s the cost of each blank resin, powder, dye?

so this is how vibrators are made?

Impressive even if at 2X. I tried to be the first to leave a "thumbs up" wouldn't let me do it.

That is some impressive work with the skew!

Great job. Thanks for showing how to do this.

When you make the jig, the 31/64" hole has to be deeper than the height of the "finial piece" (cap). You may want to drill through if you are using wood, that way you can press it out from the open side, if it gets stuck in the hole. FWIW-Ed

Great idea Ed. Thanks for sharing. Mike

Thank you! Great job on the jig. This is very helpful.

Very nice thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy 😊 and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

Awesome info. Thank you. I enjoyed MPG a few years back.

Looks more like a Sierra kit to me.

Hi Ed, Is that a real piece of rebar? How in the world did you drill that? Even drilled out, isn't it heavy to write with? I t certainly does look nice.

Good job guys. Nice to see all (TonyL)

Great idea Ed. Is this a kit you sell?

Nice job Ed. I like the music too.

Will the 18 rack fit a 9" pressure pot?

Ed THANKS FOR THE VIDEO'S I BEEN BUYING PEN KITS FOR A WHILE now and this is the first time I heard about the locktite. I will give it a try thanks.....Larry from calf!

I've had several kits that the instructions looked outdated. Like they were from how the kit USED to come.

100% correct. I have chamfered to meet the flat but my beading skills at that level could not match the radius.

Loads of useful tips here even for folks who already make their own blanks. Thanks!

I have turned many of these pens and just assumed I was not turning then correctly. Thanks for the help

Using your finger to spread ca glue!!!

They came out great. I just started doing this. Thanks for the tips. You know you can use Post-its instead of writing on the pot right? LOL.

A great little tutorial. I'm a big proponent of taking the edges down on acrylic or hybrid blanks with my belt sander, have been doing that for years and it makes it easier to start turning them.

Excellent.

Ed, that is a very nice turned blank. You explained how you didn’t true the ends before turning, instead waited until you were almost finished. That seems like a good idea now that I babe seen you do it. Easier to keep from chipping the ends beyond repair. Thanks for another great video.

I know this is an older video, but can you give me a run down of that equipment you are using? Thanks!

Good job. Video was distant

Thank goodness for you too videos like this. I was sitting there stumped thinking I had to insert the click assembly in the other way. Once I saw these instructions I finished it within a minute. Thank you very much

Nice olive wood ring. Been making rings for a while now. If you decide to make more, then the only immediate advice I have would be using a carbide tool that’s not curved. I use the square bits on mine, so I don’t have to worry about a CA glue gap between the wood n steel. Still a damn good job since it’s your third ring.

Great video as always. I have been curious about these kits for a long time. You have answered all my questions. Thanks

What did you use for buffing?

Nice job Ed. Too bad about the mirrors. Where do u get the better quality mirror please?

For ease of viewing, the turning of the egg starts the video, sanding is at 6:33, the finish is GluBoost-that process starts at 8:17 and the assembly of the kaleidoscope begins at about 12:55.

John, Are the vertical tubes themselves reusable or are they consumables?

out of focus and really bad video--get off youtube!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good job Ed. Best to you and Dawn.

Looks great, Ed! I hope you and Dawn are well, my friend!