One of those nights....

[MikeH]

Everhad one of those night? The lights are off in may garage now. I have pens that I am going to turn for the 3 fathers in my life. My real father, my father-in-law whose been a father long before my wife and I were married and her step-father. I've been working on my daughters loft and steps and had this week dedicated to turning the pens.

Well, I headed out to the garage about 10:00 (first mistake). :slap: Should have gone to bed. Cut a blank out of some Black Walnut I have, cut it in half and drilled the hole without incident. :eusa_clap Glued the tubes in without incident. :eusa_clap Squared the ends without incident or so I thought, but when I went to put the blanks on the mandrel one was very tight. :eusa_thin I must have tweaked the end of the tube when I squared up the blank. I thought little of it and pushed a little harder until the blanks were in place.

On went the face guard and dust mask and then the lathe. All was going well and I got the blank down to a decent shape, but before I finished the pen I wanted to make sure it would come off the mandrel. It wouldn't budge. :slap: and there was no wood to hold on to.

So....20 minutes later after using pliers and finally all my bushing to slowly force the half to the end of the mandrel :BangHead: so I could use a nail to force the mandrel through...I got the blank off.

How does it look? :rolf:

TIME FOR BED! Nite ALL!

 

[ptt49er]

so I'm guessing you're not gonna be giving that pen away huh? Chalk that one up to experience and get back to it tomorrow! Your night sounds kinda like a couple of days I had were I had to remake the same part for the crib twice because I didn't center the dado blade before cutting the grove. Good luck tomorrow!

 

[MikeH]

so I'm guessing you're not gonna be giving that pen away huh? Chalk that one up to experience and get back to it tomorrow! Your night sounds kinda like a couple of days I had were I had to remake the same part for the crib twice because I didn't center the dado blade before cutting the grove. Good luck tomorrow!

Thanks Phillip. I might just put the pen together just like it is and use it that way. :lol: Could be a good conversation piece. :slap:

 

[cskipper]

If nothing else, keep it as your shop pen as a reminder to yourself.

 

[Larry Rose]

Don't you just hate it. It seems to me that just when I think I've got this woodworking thing down pat, I screw up royaly. I guess thats what keep us humble and in our place:slap:

 

[nelsone]

Thanks Phillip. I might just put the pen together just like it is and use it that way. :lol: Could be a good conversation piece. :slap:

Just tell everyone it's a "rustic" pen and that you went to a lot of trouble to distress it juuuussssst right to get the proper effect!:rolf:

Sometimes it's good to know when to call it quits!

 

[Eaglesc]

A couple of suggestions.
You didn't say what type of kit this was going in but if it took a slimline tube, reaming the end of the tube with a 1/4" step bit would make it go on the mandrel easier.
There is also the possibility that you got a little glue in the tube.If the mandrel heated beyond 160degress(not hard to do) that glue could have melted and then rest bonding the tube to the mandrel.
Remember the tube should slide on easily, even if you finish the pen it may have cracked after assembly due to the pressure on the wood when the fittings were installed.
It looks like it could be salvaged with a little help from the CA God.

 

[MikeH]

A couple of suggestions.
You didn't say what type of kit this was going in but if it took a slimline tube, reaming the end of the tube with a 1/4" step bit would make it go on the mandrel easier.
There is also the possibility that you got a little glue in the tube.If the mandrel heated beyond 160degress(not hard to do) that glue could have melted and then rest bonding the tube to the mandrel.
Remember the tube should slide on easily, even if you finish the pen it may have cracked after assembly due to the pressure on the wood when the fittings were installed.
It looks like it could be salvaged with a little help from the CA God.

I did get a little CA in the tube, but I think when I squared the end I may have done something to one end of the tube. It would turn on the mandrel it just took some force to turn it. It's only one end that's catching. I may use CA and try and finish it just for fun. Either way it is the new shop pen. :eusa_danc

 

[DavidF]

It's called "texturing" isn't it?

 

[Sharp Blade]

This incident made me ask..."What happens when David Marks or Sam Maloof screw up? They do right?"

 

[DaveO]

BTDT (several times ) I have found that taking a x-acto knife and cutting a slight chamfer on the inside of the tube will remove the slight burr formed by the end mill (if you cut into the tube a bit) and make for an easy fit on the mandrel.
Dave

 

[MikeH]

BTDT (several times ) I have found that taking a x-acto knife and cutting a slight chamfer on the inside of the tube will remove the slight burr formed by the end mill (if you cut into the tube a bit) and make for an easy fit on the mandrel.
Dave

Thanks Dave. I'm sure that is what it is. :eusa_thin

 

[Robert Arrowood]

Why don't you finish the pen.Then build a nice frame and hang it on the wall.

'' THIS IS WHAT NOT TO DO '':rolf: :rolf: :rolf:

 

[MikeH]

Well..........Here it is. It actually turned out pretty well considering what it went through last night. I kinda like the distressed look. Let me know what you think.

 

[Gotcha6]

"Wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement." -from the book "Don't squat with yer spurs on" I'd say you're a much wiser man today.....

 

[Larry Rose]

If you hadn't told us, we would have never known. Never admit it's your fault:eusa_whis

 

[sapwood]

It certainly has character :mrgreen:

Roger

 

[dick541]

Hay- I like the shape, looks like the was made that way.
dick

 

[BillPappas]

When I clicked on the link only part of the picture was showing and I thought at first glance that it was a finger!!!:roll::roll: Happy to see it was just a pen! I have never went into the shop to late but have left to late on a number of occasions and am always sorry I did stay that extra 15 or 30 minutes.


Regards,

Bill

 

[MikeH]

When I clicked on the link only part of the picture was showing and I thought at first glance that it was a finger!!!:roll::roll: Happy to see it was just a pen! I have never went into the shop to late but have left to late on a number of occasions and am always sorry I did stay that extra 15 or 30 minutes.


Regards,

Bill

I'm still counting to 11.....oh wait.....10 :rolf: