
PROJECT PEN KITS
Elegance Pen Kit
Code: 502695
PREPARING THE BLANKS, HINTS & TIPS
Preparing a wooden or acrylic/polyester
blank for a pen mandrel.
1. Cut a blank to the length of the tube
plus approximately 2.5mm to allow for
trimming and squaring off the ends.
2. Mark the centre on the end of the blank.
3. Using the recommended drill bit, drill a
hole lengthwise through the blank.
4. Apply epoxy glue, Polyurethane glue or
gap filling cyanoacrylate (super glue) to
the tubes.
5. Insert the tube into the blank with a
twisting motion to spread the glue
evenly inside the hole.
6. Centre the tube lengthwise inside the
blank.
7. Allow the adhesive to cure.
8. When cured, square the ends of the
blank. Using a barrel trimmer with a
guide matching the inner diameter
of the tube or a universal pen blank
squaring jig with a disc sander.
9. Take the excess material down flush
with the ends of the brass tube. (do
not trim beyond the length of the tube
since this may interfere with operation
of the mechanism and assembly).
For more info and
videos scan here
WHAT’S REQUIRED
Bushing Set:
953310
Drill Bit Size:
27/64”
Minimum Blank Size:
16mm x 16 mm x 60mm
Tips/Hints
• Excessive pressure may cause the drill
bit to wander and/or split the blank.
Slow the feed rate and back the drill bit
out repeatedly for chip removal.
• Roughen the brass tube slightly with
abrasive for better adhesion.
• Certain acrylic blanks are more
transparent than others, especially
lighter colors or blanks with light
colored swirls. To avoid the risk of the
brass tube showing through the pen
blank, paint the tubes white or black
before gluing them in.
• The barrel trimmer guide also cleans
any adhesive that may have gotten
inside of the tube.
TURNING THE BLANK, HINTS & TIPS
1. Mount the bushings and blank onto a
pen mandrel according to the diagram.
2. Secure the bushings and blank onto the
mandrel.
3. Slide the tailstock with a live centre into
place against the mandrel and lock in
position. This is for support; only slight
pressure is required.
4. Using sharp tools, turn the blank down
to become the Pen Barrel with the
profile of your choice.
5. Turn the blank very slightly oversize,
then sand and polish the ends down to
the same diameter as the bushings.
6. Using successively finer abrasives
gradually sand and polish the Pen
Barrel.
7. Finish the Pen Barrel with your
preferred choice of polish.
Tips/Hints
• Don’t be afraid to sharpen frequently
especially when turning acrylics.
Continues over...

ASSEMBLY, HINTS & TIPS
1. Layout parts according to diagram A
2. Slide the Spring onto the Refill and
place it inside the Nib Assembly.
3. Screw the Twist Mechanism into the Nib
Assembly.
4. Press Clip/Cap Assembly into the top of
the Pen Barrel.
5. Push Pen Barrel with Clip/Cap Assembly
onto completed Twist Mechanism/Nib
Assembly.
6. Turn clockwise to open.
DIAGRAM A
Tips/Hints
• Use a woodworking vice, one handed bar
clamp, arbor press or a dedicated pen
press.
• Press parts together slowly and steadily
• When pressing the parts together,
CHECK the parts are correctly aligned
with each other and straight. If the part
is crooked or misaligned, it will result in a
poor fit or render the pen unuseable.
• When laying out your pen barrel with
the parts, pay careful attention to keep
the pen barrels in the same orientation
as when on the mandrel. i.e. a pen barrel
may have a “top” and “bottom”, now is
the time to be certain of the orientation.
Visit the Knowledge blog ‘How To Make A Pen’ for hints, tips and videos
knowledge.axminstertools.com/pen-turning
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