Pen turning

[John Torchick]

I took a class at our local Woodcraft store and found something that I enjoy along with other turnings. My grandson was intrigued by it and he wanted me to help him make pens for his parents for their birthdays. One birthday is past and one is coming up due to some hiccups in planning and his school schedule. One is the new Wrench design from WC. My son is a mechanical engineer so it will fit nicely. The hiccup was that the wood picked out was lignum vitae. I can drill through tool steel faster! However, we did get the pen done. The other will b e pink acrylic for his mother. Take a look at the Wrench photo. My grandson turned 90% of it with me guiding the spindle gouge on the tool rest. Now he wants a lathe. Finish is several coats of BLO after sanding with micro pads. Thanks for looking.

 

[Grant Wilkinson]

Your grandson is to be congratulated on a job very well done. He sure picked a tough blank to turn. That's a fun kit.

 

[John Torchick]

Thanks. I sharpened a drill bit on my new Rikon Low-Speed grinder that I bought for turning tools. One tool rest has a V groove for drill bits. I took my time and it did a good job. At my son's recommendation, I slowed the DP down to about 1,110 rpm- same as drilling metal. Worked like a charm.
The grandson is a hands-on guy like his father. My grandson found an old combination lock somewhere. He played around with it while looking at the tumblers. He figured out how to unlock it. Me? I'm just now learning how to tie my shoes. 😀 Good to have a wife who taught preschool for years.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Very nice. Your grandson sounds like a smart kid. When I was in Junior High, another fool and I figured out how to open the cheap Slaymaker locks and swapped them around on a bunch of lockers. It's interesting that the two of us were the only ones who thought that it was funny. That ended my safe-cracking career which was probably a good thing. I decided to change my career path towards science instead. Smarter choice, but not as much fun. 😀

 

[John Torchick]

Bill, sounds like you had a good time in school. However, some people as you know, don't have a sense of humor. As my friend said, he learned more behind the schoolhouse than inside.
Thanks to all for your kind comments.
The next pen is for his mother- pink acrylic on the new Kaleidoscope design from Woodcraft. I'm planning on some pens for Christmas presents. The wife and I were looking at the WC catalogue this morning to get an idea of what is available. I'm also looking to turn some pens based on the gun and ammo themes from WC. I'm going to see if I can generate some interest at the local gun club.