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PROJECT PEN KITS
Pen Turning Starter Package - 1MT
Code: 106705
PREPARING THE BLANKS, HINTS & TIPS
Preparing a wooden or acrylic/polyester
blank for a pen mandrel.
1. Cut a blank to the length of each 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: 8.5 mm O/D
(as supplied with mandrel) (100793)
Drill Bit Size:
7 mm
Minimum Blank Size:
16 mm x 16 mm x 112 mm
Tips/Hints
• If using a wooden blank, draw a short
pencil line lengthwise across the centre
of the blank. This will help maintain
grain alignment when mounting the
blanks onto a mandrel.
• 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 blanks onto a
pen mandrel according to the diagram
(If using a wooden blank, check the
grain alignment).
2. Secure the bushings and blanks 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 blanks down
to become the Upper Pen Barrel and
Lower Pen Barrel with profiles of your
choice.
5. Turn the blanks 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 both Pen
Barrels.
7. Finish both Pen Barrels with your
preferred choice of polish.
Tips/Hints
• Don’t be afraid to sharpen frequently
especially when turning acrylics.
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ASSEMBLY, HINTS & TIPS
1. Layout the parts according to diagram
A, ensuring the turned Pen Barrels are
the same orientation as when mounted
on the mandrel.
Note: When removing the blanks from
the mandrel, use a felt tip pen to mark
the inside of each tube where they join to
maintain the grain or pattern alignment.
2. Carefully align the Pen Tip with the
bottom end of the lower Pen Barrel
and press firmly together.
3. Press the Twist Mechanism, brass end
first, into the opposite end of the lower
Pen Barrel ONLY as far as the groove.
Note: Be very careful not to press the Twist
Mechanism too far into the Pen Barrel
as it cannot be pulled out.
4. To determine if the Twist Mechanism
is at the correct depth. Insert the Refill
into the barrel and screw fully into the
Twist Mechanism.
5. Actuate the Twist Mechanism to expose
the Refill’s point. When properly fitted
the point should be fully hidden when
retracted and just the chamfered
portion of the Refill visible when
extended.
6. If the point does not extend far
enough, remove the Refill and press
the Twist Mechanism a little further
into the tube.
7. Slide the Clip onto the Cap, do not try
to force the Clip onto the Cap by hand
it will seat fully when the Cap is pressed
into the top end of the Upper Pen
Barrel.
8. Slide the Centre Band over the Twist
Mechanism.
9. Push (by hand) the Upper Pen Barrel
over the exposed Twist Mechanism to
complete the pen.
10. There is sufficient grip between
the upper Pen Barrel and the Twist
Mechanism to keep the upper Pen
Barrel in place.
11. The Pen is operated by twisting the
two halves in opposite directions to
extend or retract the point.
12. To replace the refill: Pull the two
halves apart and change the refill.
Push back together.
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.
DIAGRAM A
Visit the Knowledge blog ‘How To Make A Pen’ for hints, tips and videos
knowledge.axminstertools.com/pen-turning
VIEW OUR FULL RANGE OF
PEN CASES AND DISPLAY BOXES ONLINE
Axminster Tools, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5PH
AXMINSTERTOOLS.COM
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