Wood Turning Project: Pen Turning
Pen turning is the art of making pens on a wood lathe from scratch or kits. Craft and assemble a wooden pen with a woodworking expert in this free video series on pen turning.
Series Summary
A wood lathe, or wood turner, is a great tool for creating works of art at home. For the do-it-yourself enthusiast, a home wood shop is essential. Whether it's a simple bookcase or an ornate piece of furniture, the home wood shop can be a place for the woodworker's creative juices to flow. Who doesn't love the smell of sawdust, the sight of neatly organized tools and the sense of satisfaction that comes in building it yourself from start to finish? Wood turning gives craftsmen and craftswomen the opportunity to put creativity to the test and produce fine wood products for furniture, decoration or home improvement. In this free video series on pen turning, wood turner and author Kip Christiansen demonstrates how to craft a custom, wooden pen from start to finish. Christiansen discusses using a wood lathe safely and each step in turning a pen from a simple pen kit that can be bought at hobby or hardware stores. Christiansen matches the grains, assembles the clip and transmission for the pen, sculpts the length and size and handles each step in the construction of the perfect gift or decoration, a wooden pen made from scratch.-
Wood Turning & Pen Length
Leaving excess length when wood turning a pen ensures the lathe holds the pen in place while working. Craft a pen of the right length with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Dismounting Pen
Dismounting a pen turning project from the lathe can be tricky, and remember to cover the mandrel with the tail stock to prevent damage. Learn how to remove a pen from a lathe with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Rough Shaping
Rough shaping in pen turning involves chiseling off the corners from the wooden pen blanks on a lathe. Practice rough shaping a pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Sanding Grooves & Details
When sanding a pen turning project, grooves and details can be sculpted into the pen blanks. Add details to a pen on a lathe with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Mounting Pen Blanks
When pen turning, wood workers mount pen blanks onto a wood lathe with a pen mandrel and several moving parts. Mount pen blanks into a lathe with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning & Early Sanding
Early sanding in a pen turning project entails using 120-grit to 180-grit sandpaper to shave down rough edges. Sand a pen on a lathe with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Inserting Brass Tubes
When pen turning, wood workers insert brass tubes into the lathed pen blanks to begin constructing the pen and assembling the metal components. Insert brass tubes into a custom pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Brass Tubes in Pen Turning
Pen turning a custom pen from a kit involves reaming out the brass tubes that fit snugly into each pen blank to house the ink and transmission. Learn about brass tubes on pens with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Wood Turning Safety Precautions
Safety precautions are important when wood turning as wood lathes can spin at very high speeds and reach RPMs in the thousands. Stay safe working in a wood shop with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Kits for Wood Turning
Wood turning a pen is easier with pre-packaged pen kits that can be purchased at hardware or hobby stores. Choose a pen kit with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Wire Burners & Steel Wool Sanding
When sanding a pen turning project, wire burners and steel wool Add finishing details to a pen on a lathe with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Barrel Trimming
Pen turning often includes using a barrel trimmer to ream out the brass tubes that come in pre-packaged pen kits. Use a barrel trimmer with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Applying Finish
After pen turning a custom project, applying finish to the wood can preserve and decorate the pen. Apply a finish to a custom pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning With a Shallow Spindle Gouge
Pen turning, like other wood turning, uses a shallow spindle gouge and other chisels to shape the rotating wood and shave off corners. Learn how to use a shallow spindle gouge with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Final Shaping
Final shaping a pen turning project requires the wood worker to use finer tools to create a perfect cylinder of the pen, leaving room for later sanding. Practice final shaping a pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Clip & Transmission Fitting
After pen turning a wooden pen, the clip and transmission, which delivers the ink, must be fitted into the pen blanks. Assemble the clip and transmission for a custom pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning & High-Grit Sanding
Shaping a pen turning project involves sanding with very fine, high-grit sandpaper between 320 and 600-grit. Sand a pen on a lathe with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Assembling Pen
The final step in pen turning a complete, working pen is assembling the various parts together. Assemble a custom-made pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Grain Matching
When pen turning, match up the wood grains on both halves of the pen to sustain the natural flow of the wood along the length of the entire pen. Keep grains aligned when making a pen with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Drilling Hole
Drilling holes into the pen blanks when turning a custom pen can split the blanks if the hole is not centered carefully in the wood. Drill a pen hole with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning: Pushing In Tip
After pen turning a custom pen, wood workers must push in the pen tip to begin constructing a working writing utensil. Push the pen tip into a pen blank with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
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Pen Turning for Wood Turning Project
Turning pens is a great beginning project for wood turners trying to learn skills without spending much money. Start a pen turning project with a wood turning expert in this free video on pen turning.
