New Toy

[Sawduster]

Much as I hate any sort of "Production" set-up for woodworking, I've had to make several pens lately and to get them out in a cost effective manner, have had to resort to a production line atmosphere. Some of the kits I have gotten have not been up to the standards I'm used to getting from Berea, so they have been a little more difficult to assemble. In the past I've used a 6" Quick Clamp sans the rubber pads to squeeze the parts into the tubes, but some of the twist mechanisms have fit overly snug into the tubes as well as the caps being slightly oversized to fit through the pocket clips. I've actually had to use a rat tail file to enlarge the holes in the clips.

Needed to order some pen boxes and figured as long as I'm making an order I might as well get one of these:

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/images/379-2001.jpg

Have to say, once I got a new gauge block made for pressing the twist mechanisms, it works ever so much better than the quick clamp, and faster, too. Assembled four pens in the time it would take to do one with the old method.

[ASLNROX]

The right tool Jer!

I almost got one of those as we are doing a production run with the kids at our Kid's Academy, but I decided on a WW pencil that did not needs a tube so nothing to press on.

I agree with you about production runs, but sometimes it is a necessity! I do feel more like a coke machine rather than a woodworker when I am in the middle of one...like now!

Blessings,
--Mark

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[WoodMangler]

I hummed and haawwwed about that too... but finally got it for a Christmas present...

I really like it... I mounted mine on the wall and it is a handy-dandy item for sure...

[Cody Colston]

Every time I get on a pen-making kick I consider getting one of those. One of these days...

Here lately I've been trying to turn chess pieces. They look okay but the bases are sure not identical nor are the matching pieces. I just finished the first of those four horsehead thingys. My carving leaves a lot to be desired. :)

Cody

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep
for that which he cannot lose.

[cavey35]

Yep, those are sure nice to have when your doing lots of pens and or pencils.
Got mine when I took an order for 25 pen/pencil sets. A time saver for sure.


Jeff

[TDHofstetter]

Mine ain't quite as "factory" looking as yours... but mine's solid oak. :) Except for the toggle clamp, that is.

Sure makes a ton of difference to have a press, doesn't it? :)

-- Tim --

Crow ain't so bad
Once you get the hang of
the recipe

:)

[dubdrvrkev]

I considered one of those but then I was wondering around HF one day and ended up with a small arbor press. I haven't looked back since.

[NLAlston]

>I considered one of those but then I was wondering around HF
>one day and ended up with a small arbor press. I haven't
>looked back since.

Hi Kevin,

Having to make a trip to HF, this morning, I (after first reading your post) decided to take a look at an Arbor Press. They had a 1/2 ton job-a-doo there for $30, and I thought about picking one up, later. I had never heard of one before, and wanted to ask you what might be some other nifty little things that this tool could serve a purpose for.

[Sawduster]

Having used this on several pens now, it is definitely handy. The holes in the Cross clips seem to be just a hair smaller than the part that goes through them and into the tube. Almost like they were sized before being plated, so I've had to use a little round file to enlarge them slightly to get the Quick Clamp I'd been using to assemble that end of the pens to work. Also, the pen mechs from Craft Supplies seemed to be a bit more difficult to install than the Berea kits I've used before. The assembler punched the parts together with no problem at all.