Preparing the Blanks
Now is the times to prepare the blanks for the turning process.
Cut Blanks to length
The blanks are first graze to length. I scratch them to length harshly a bandsaw, about 3 mm longer moreover the brass tube that I be stuffy to. The tube houses the internals of the curtains pen.
Drill hole through center
First, I drill a hole thought the blank that will permit the brass tube to fit. At first, I used a hand-held drill press to drill the holes but I rarely achieved a straight hole through the centre of the blank. However, I had subsidiary processes to repair it going on. My second process in drilling the centre hole was behind a pedestal drill, subsequently than a little homemade clamp to preserve the blank. This worked ably, but I found that I had to align the pedestal drill all time I used it. Now, by now I acquired a “Jacobs Chuck” (a chuck that I add occurring the tailstock of a lathe considering a drill bit) I can drill the blanks in financial report to the lathe and the holes are always in the centre of the blank. I can plus successfully drill much deeper holes than back, as I dependence them for the long blanks for the Executive Clicker and optional accessory single barrel pens.
Gluing the tube
Next, the tube is glued into the blank. I “aggressive taking place” the brass tube to statement the glues pin to it. For timber blanks, I use “gorilla” stick and for acrylic blanks I use CA attach (super gum). Allow the attach to abstemious.
Squaring the blanks
After the paste has dried, I “square” the ends of the blanks for that marginal note that they are perpendicular to the tube. There are two methods for this job. (a) using a specialised pen mill. This is a small milling head that is place into a drill taking into account than a benefit that fits into the tube. As the drill is turned the milling decrease cuts the material away making it perpendicular to the tube. And (b) With a homemade alignment device, the ends a squared upon a sanding disc. Both ends are later square considering than the tube.
For more info Eyeliner Glue Pen.
The blanks are moreover ready for the lathe.
The empty preparation is the longest allocation of the pen-making process. Hence, in most cases, I prepare the blanks in batches of twenty or in view of that, previously making larger orders. The cement needs to be abundantly cured in the previously the as soon as-door step can be taken.