Here are is a pic of my first pen. General disclaimer: This is literally the first thing I've turned on a lathe I just inherited. Keep in mind that I do not know anything about turning or sharpening chisels so I'm at a distinct advantage. I'm having fun but certainly have a lot to learn.
Here's a quick list of what I learned:
Here's a quick list of what I learned:
- Turning isn't nearly as easy as other's make it look.
- The Penn State Video was very informative & helpful.
- Ed & Mike's lathe lesson at Jeremy's was more imformative & helpful.
- Trying to cut a pen blank to length by hand on a miter saw is stupid and dangerous. (I keep learning that lesson guess I'm a slow learner).
- Cutting tenons on the pen for a band is really hard!
- If you cut the tenon too small you can use white plumbers tape to build up a washer and sorta hide your mistake.
- Taking time to download assembly plans for the kit you bought from woodcraft would be a good idea.
- If you push a part in too far you can use an allen wrench and clamp to push it back out.
- Don't pull on the twisty part with pliers cause it will come out and the housing will stay and you'll have wasted that part of the kit.
- My wife is very supportive she says the pen looks great even before I got the band fixed or the thing set so it would actually work.
- I do really enjoy a project that can be don in an afternoon!
