Good method, I use a blank end arbor with a morse taper, quick and cheap. Can also put thin velcro on the arbor and use the velcro sandpaper discs, but try to get them as thin as possible
That is a great idea. It would also work to clean up the ends after coating with CA glue. I am going to make one this week. For a punch I will use an old pen mandrel for the 7mm tubes. Thanks.
Great idea. I came up with a similar method after watching many TH-cam videos, which used things that I felt were not ideal. If I'd found your video earlier I would have used your method (and still may make it anyway). Simple, inexpensive and pretty foolproof. My solution uses an oversized mandrel to stack wood on a metal shaft to make fancy hammer handles, with a pen like construction, but your method would still work even on pieces over normal pen sizes. Genius.
Hi Lynn, Great idea, Here is a tip for you and your viewers, you should install the collet in the Nut before inserting in the chuck. The hole in the nut is offset from center so you should install it there first. That's how you get a lip to extract the collet later. You are not alone lots of people don't know this. Keep on posting. Richard....
I like your method, I did something similar but I was using the mandrel and it really only worked well with 7mm kits. I ended up scraping it. This looks more promising with the Jacobs chuck and the punches.Regards,Bob
If one doesn't have a collet chuck, one can simply make a faceplate, grab it with your regular chuck jaws, glue a piece of sandpaper to the faceplate, use the mandrel in the tailstock, slide the tubed blank over the mandrel and then advance the tailstock until you can contact the blank with the sandpaper.
+Warren Downes - One Wood Yea I've got a lot of background noise with the vacuum and a fan. I actually have a lapel mic but I'm to lazy to sync the sound files with video in post. If I did that I can eliminate all that noise. Thanks for the suggestion and for watching.
Thank you for posting this... I really didn’t want to have to order an $18 barrel trimmer. I have a Shopsmith with 12” sanding disc, so tour method should work great with my setup. :)
Very informative Lynn. I’m in the market for a collet chuck. Any preferences, suggestions on brands/models? Also do they make one that comes with different size collet inserts as a package? I’ve never used on before so if you have any info on price or where to purchase, any and all assistance would be appreciated. Thanks Lynn! Ron
Hey Ron, thanks for reaching out. This is the one I bought from CRaft Supply www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/101/4400/Apprentice-Collet-Chuck-7-Piece-Set?term=collet+chuck&term=collet%20chuck. Thanks for watching
What is the diameter of the face with sand paper? I found a machined mandrel from Sherline Products part number 3051 and bought it. It has a #0 morse taper and its head is 3/4 inch. I plan on trying this in my jaw chuck to see if it works. The question I have for you is what the diameter has to be. Is 3/4 inch enough for most pen blanks. I think it will work and can't wait to get back in the shop. Love your videos! Keep on doing what you do. The best to you.
+Edwin Leach Hi Edwin, the diameter on mine is about 2 inches but it doesn't have to be that big. I would guess it needs to be big enough to service your largest pen blank. I would think 3/4 would be fine. Thanks for reaching out and thanks for watching.
I completely agree that barrel trimmers are a pain. Ended up making a jig to hold a punch perpendicular to the disc on the disc sander. I can use different size punches depending on the blank I'm trimming. I tried using the lathe similar to what you are doing. I seemed to always be changing the sandpaper though. Looks like you're using a courser grit of sandpaper than what I tried. 60 grit paper would probably have been a better option.
THANKS Lynn!!! Great method of squaring the ends of pen blanks!!! I, like you, have ruined a number of blanks using the end barrel trimming method, what a pain in the ole patoot!!! Your method looks much simpler, easier and as square if not more so than using my old method or using a belt/disk sander setup! I also 'round' off the blanks edges sooo the blank/gauge doesn't chatter or catch easily on the wood when roughing!!! Again, THANKS for a great idea...when ever in doubt, ask a more experienced woodturner!!! ;>)
+blackemmons Hey Jim, as I stand facing the lathe the head stock or drive end is to my left. I have the camera above and behind the lathe. Thanks for watching I really appreciate it.
Great idea Lynn! This is a perfect solution for a problem I have, a kit that doesn't have a sleeve available for the barrel trimmers. Been sitting around waiting to find an accurate solution to present itself, looks like it has! I don't have a collet chuck yet, have any suggestions on where to get one?
I think I bought my collet chuck set at wood turners catalog (Craft Supply. Check this link www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/101/4400/Apprentice-Collet-Chuck-7-Piece-Set?term=collet+chuck and thanks for watching Zac.
Zac Higgins hey Zack not to take away from Lynn's process I purchased an arbor from Amazon and thread on a piece of wood and then did the same thing as Lynn using sticky backed sandpaper and punches from Harbor freight to square my blanks. Here's a link. 2 Morse Taper to 1/2"-20 Threaded Drill Chuck Arbor www.amazon.com/dp/B0007Q1Q32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_LNDmybRYYJT2J
Thanks Lynn! I think a collet chuck will be a useful addition to my toolbox. Need to get a set ordered and get on that pen kit that's been collecting dust
+Herms Radatus Hey thanks, I appreciate , I think I left a link in the video description but you can buy it at Home Depot and I think Harbor Freight. Thanks again from watching and commenting?
+colojeeper2003 thanks for the thought but the bit used in drilling the blank is larger than the inside diameter of the tube. I like a tighter fit than that would give. Good thought though. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Lynn Lacey Wrote what I was seeing instead of doing. I used a drill bit I think was two sizes smaller out of my set of bits to use inside the tube. Love the idea though and plan to use it.
What is the cost of the Little Chuck you have to have little inserts and then make those little sanding Block disk? I have destroyed a not lot of pen blank I can't blame it on barrel trimmer.
Now I just gotta buy a collet chuck, some centre punches, some 60 grit paper and a sanding thingy to go with my jacob's chuck. Cheap as chips eh? Yeah, right! I reckon I could use my pen mandrel, somehow.
I don't know how this hasn't been mentioned yet, but that's NOT the right way to put your collet in the holder... You're supposed to snap the collet into the nut and then screw it onto the holder
Hey Ken if you don’t already have what you need then yes it can cost a bit. But I already had everything so it cost me nothing. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment
So instead of having to keep up with the inserts for the barrel trimmer and the added expense they bring, you have to buy a big set of punches to keep track of, and you have to buy a collet chuck set to keep track of. Seems a little counter intuitive to me. On top of having to fabricate the sanding disk and *hoping* you can make it perfectly flat, and also having to buy and keep track of adhesive sand paper.
You really need to remove that yellow towel in the video under your work. It is an accident waiting to happen. Get a dust collector if you are worried about your lathe. You might say I’ve done a million and never had a problem. I’ve seen things get pulled into spinning tools like drill presses and lathes.
Good method, I use a blank end arbor with a morse taper, quick and cheap. Can also put thin velcro on the arbor and use the velcro sandpaper discs, but try to get them as thin as possible
That is a great idea. It would also work to clean up the ends after coating with CA glue. I am going to make one this week. For a punch I will use an old pen mandrel for the 7mm tubes. Thanks.
Great idea. I came up with a similar method after watching many TH-cam videos, which used things that I felt were not ideal. If I'd found your video earlier I would have used your method (and still may make it anyway). Simple, inexpensive and pretty foolproof.
My solution uses an oversized mandrel to stack wood on a metal shaft to make fancy hammer handles, with a pen like construction, but your method would still work even on pieces over normal pen sizes. Genius.
Hi Lynn, Great idea, Here is a tip for you and your viewers, you should install the collet in the Nut before inserting in the chuck. The hole in the nut is offset from center so you should install it there first. That's how you get a lip to extract the collet later. You are not alone lots of people don't know this.
Keep on posting.
Richard....
Thanks for the feedback and for watching
I like your method, I did something similar but I was using the mandrel and it really only worked well with 7mm kits. I ended up scraping it. This looks more promising with the Jacobs chuck and the punches.Regards,Bob
+RJBWoodTurner It works better for me and I appreciate you taking the time to watch.
Scrapping?
so simpel. it´s a great idea! thanks for this video!
Brilliant and simple
If one doesn't have a collet chuck, one can simply make a faceplate, grab it with your regular chuck jaws, glue a piece of sandpaper to the faceplate, use the mandrel in the tailstock, slide the tubed blank over the mandrel and then advance the tailstock until you can contact the blank with the sandpaper.
Very good thought - thanks for the input and for watching.
What a great idea. This is better than a disk sander since it gets the ends square to the tube even if it is drilled a little off center.
+Kris Freyermuth Yea Kris to me this is much easier. Thanks for watching.
Great solution!
I have my first and new barrel trimmer and have no problems - but as soon as I do I know have a way to fix it - thanks for sharing
You can use your banjo as a stop to prevent the punch from hitting the sanding disk.
Centering Punches are normally called transfer punches. I like to use a rubber eraser to clean sandpaper.
Great tip Lynn thanks, you may want to look at a Rose shotgun mic. Will help your videos
+Warren Downes - One Wood Yea I've got a lot of background noise with the vacuum and a fan. I actually have a lapel mic but I'm to lazy to sync the sound files with video in post. If I did that I can eliminate all that noise. Thanks for the suggestion and for watching.
Loved your tip, Lynn. Keep up the good videos.
Thanks
Great video..!!
Great idea Lynn! Thanks for sharing.
Take care, Dave
+David Morgan Hey Dave you are welcome, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Excellent idea. Thanks for sharing. New subscriber. Ohio.
+Jack Maravola Thanks Jack and welcome, I hope you enjoy the channel
Thank you for posting this... I really didn’t want to have to order an $18 barrel trimmer. I have a Shopsmith with 12” sanding disc, so tour method should work great with my setup. :)
Great good luck
I just finished my first pen yesterday and I used my Shopsmith sanding disk to trim the blank and it worked great.
What a clever guy you are. Thanks
+Brian Binns Thank you Brian, I'm glad you watched.
Very informative Lynn. I’m in the market for a collet chuck. Any preferences, suggestions on brands/models? Also do they make one that comes with different size collet inserts as a package? I’ve never used on before so if you have any info on price or where to purchase, any and all assistance would be appreciated. Thanks Lynn!
Ron
Hey Ron, thanks for reaching out. This is the one I bought from CRaft Supply www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/101/4400/Apprentice-Collet-Chuck-7-Piece-Set?term=collet+chuck&term=collet%20chuck. Thanks for watching
Great idea!
Thank you Randy
great idea, thanks for all your advice and guidance,
+Rich Mitchell Thank you for watching Rich.
I use a disc sander to square up but I like this. That is very clever. I need to adapt this idea.
+Tenspeed TheBikeHanger Thanks and good luck.
great tip there Lynn
+Robert Evans Thank you a Robert.
What is the diameter of the face with sand paper? I found a machined mandrel from Sherline Products part number 3051 and bought it. It has a #0 morse taper and its head is 3/4 inch. I plan on trying this in my jaw chuck to see if it works. The question I have for you is what the diameter has to be. Is 3/4 inch enough for most pen blanks. I think it will work and can't wait to get back in the shop. Love your videos! Keep on doing what you do. The best to you.
+Edwin Leach Hi Edwin, the diameter on mine is about 2 inches but it doesn't have to be that big. I would guess it needs to be big enough to service your largest pen blank. I would think 3/4 would be fine. Thanks for reaching out and thanks for watching.
Awesome! I'm going to be trying some things very similar! Might do it backward... LoL
Good luck
Great idea! I was looking at this problem the other day, so I appreciate you sharing :)
Thanks and I appreciate you watching. Regards Lynn
This looks like a great idea. I would like to try it but I have not been able to find the sticky back sandpaper squares. Any idea where you buy them?
I completely agree that barrel trimmers are a pain. Ended up making a jig to hold a punch perpendicular to the disc on the disc sander. I can use different size punches depending on the blank I'm trimming. I tried using the lathe similar to what you are doing. I seemed to always be changing the sandpaper though. Looks like you're using a courser grit of sandpaper than what I tried. 60 grit paper would probably have been a better option.
+John Hendricks Thanks John, I appreciate you watching.
what a good idea. will give it a try. thanks a lot
+Barry Parks Thanks Barry, it works well for me. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for sharing, I do the same but I use a disk sender. Thank you and have a good day.
Thanks for watching and for the comments
THANKS Lynn!!! Great method of squaring the ends of pen blanks!!! I, like you, have ruined a number of blanks using the end barrel trimming method, what a pain in the ole patoot!!! Your method looks much simpler, easier and as square if not more so than using my old method or using a belt/disk sander setup! I also 'round' off the blanks edges sooo the blank/gauge doesn't chatter or catch easily on the wood when roughing!!! Again, THANKS for a great idea...when ever in doubt, ask a more experienced woodturner!!! ;>)
Thanks "Old Codger" I appreciate the comment and support. Best Regards
Similar to what I have been trying.
Question: Are you standing behind the lathe, using a mirror or is that a left handed lathe?? :-) JimE
+blackemmons Hey Jim, as I stand facing the lathe the head stock or drive end is to my left. I have the camera above and behind the lathe. Thanks for watching I really appreciate it.
Great idea Lynn! This is a perfect solution for a problem I have, a kit that doesn't have a sleeve available for the barrel trimmers. Been sitting around waiting to find an accurate solution to present itself, looks like it has! I don't have a collet chuck yet, have any suggestions on where to get one?
I think I bought my collet chuck set at wood turners catalog (Craft Supply. Check this link www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/101/4400/Apprentice-Collet-Chuck-7-Piece-Set?term=collet+chuck and thanks for watching Zac.
Zac Higgins hey Zack not to take away from Lynn's process I purchased an arbor from Amazon and thread on a piece of wood and then did the same thing as Lynn using sticky backed sandpaper and punches from Harbor freight to square my blanks. Here's a link. 2 Morse Taper to 1/2"-20 Threaded Drill Chuck Arbor www.amazon.com/dp/B0007Q1Q32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_LNDmybRYYJT2J
Thanks Lynn! I think a collet chuck will be a useful addition to my toolbox. Need to get a set ordered and get on that pen kit that's been collecting dust
Thanks for the idea Tracy, that would work good too... but I've been wanting a good excuse to get a collet chuck too :D
I'll soon be turning my first pen and i dont have a trimmer, so a version of this method will suit me well
+Willem Kossen That's good to hear Willem and thanks for watching.
I like this idea. I will try this
Thanks Brenden for watching and good luck. I think you'll like it once you get setup.
Happy New Year
I agree, I've had enough damage to blanks from the mill. I'm going to start sanding them down.
+Bill Schimmer Bill, glad I'm not the only one 🙂, thanks for watching.
good idea
+jerrybritt65 Thank you Jerry
Great idea Lynn. Where do you get the sticky back sandpaper?
Herms
+Herms Radatus Hey thanks, I appreciate , I think I left a link in the video description but you can buy it at Home Depot and I think Harbor Freight. Thanks again from watching and commenting?
Great idea, but you don't need the punch even. Just use the drill bit that you already used to drill the hole in your blank.
+colojeeper2003 thanks for the thought but the bit used in drilling the blank is larger than the inside diameter of the tube. I like a tighter fit than that would give. Good thought though. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Lynn Lacey Wrote what I was seeing instead of doing. I used a drill bit I think was two sizes smaller out of my set of bits to use inside the tube. Love the idea though and plan to use it.
I see what you were saying - thanks for the comment and good luck.
What is the cost of the Little Chuck you have to have little inserts and then make those little sanding Block disk? I have destroyed a not lot of pen blank I can't blame it on barrel trimmer.
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Now I just gotta buy a collet chuck, some centre punches, some 60 grit paper and a sanding thingy to go with my jacob's chuck. Cheap as chips eh? Yeah, right! I reckon I could use my pen mandrel, somehow.
Thanks and your right I bet you can
That sir. Is genius. You may have just save me $70
I don't know how this hasn't been mentioned yet, but that's NOT the right way to put your collet in the holder... You're supposed to snap the collet into the nut and then screw it onto the holder
Why don't you turn off the background machinery, so we can hear you better ?
good idea, but too many additions , expensive?
Hey Ken if you don’t already have what you need then yes it can cost a bit. But I already had everything so it cost me nothing. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment
So instead of having to keep up with the inserts for the barrel trimmer and the added expense they bring, you have to buy a big set of punches to keep track of, and you have to buy a collet chuck set to keep track of. Seems a little counter intuitive to me. On top of having to fabricate the sanding disk and *hoping* you can make it perfectly flat, and also having to buy and keep track of adhesive sand paper.
You really need to remove that yellow towel in the video under your work. It is an accident waiting to happen. Get a dust collector if you are worried about your lathe. You might say I’ve done a million and never had a problem. I’ve seen things get pulled into spinning tools like drill presses and lathes.
As a moulder operator all I can say is keep your tools sharp. Dont disrespect the tool ...dont be lazy.
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He needs to know what he is going to talk about before he opens his mouth.