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Pen Making
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PEN MAKING
One of my favorite woodworking projects is Pen Making.
The Tools required to make Pens are as follows:
1. Lathe .... I have a Jet Mini Lathe that works well for pen making.
2. Lathe Tools You will need a 1/2 Gouge for rough cutting, a skew chisel for fine details and Parting tool for making
tendons.
3. Pen mandrel This holds the pen blanks between centers while turning
4. Pen Bushings These are used to hold blanks and for sizing the blanks. Turn the wood down to the size of these
bushings. There are different size bushings for different size or types of pens.
5.Barrel trimmer used to square up the ends of the wood before putting on the mandrel. A disk sander can be used
instead of a barrel trimmer.
6. CA glue (super glue) or epoxy used to glue the brass barrel into the wood body.
7. You can buy blanks already pre drilled but if you cut your on, you will need the following:
Drill press, Vise to hold blank while drilling, drill bit (7mm for slim line kit), and saw for cutting blanks to size.
8. Sanding paper 150-1000 grit
9. Wax finish like HUT or Shell wax
10. Pen Kits, there are a lot of pen kits but most people start with a slim line kit.
These kits contain all the pen parts you need except for the wood.
Once you have everything.. You follow these easy steps:
Cut blanks to size for slim line 5/8" square and cut to the length of the brass tube plus an 1/8 inch used to square
up blank later.
Drill Hole in the blanks 7mm for slimline kits. This hole must be drilled down the center of the blanks.
Apply glue to the brass blank and insert it into the freshly drilled blanks. You may want to sand the brass tube
lightly to get better adhesion of the glue.
Once dry, square up the blanks using a barrel trimmer or disk sander.
Now put the mandrel on the lathe, put one bushing on then one pen blank, a bushing, the second pen blank and
another bushing. Now move up and tighten tail stock with live center.
Begin turning the stock until you have the size and look you want. The ends should be turned to the size of the
bushing. Leave a tiny amount for the sanding process.
Sand while lathe is running for 150 to 1000 grit paper.
You are now ready to apply wax for a finish.
Once this is done take the completed wood blanks and using a vise or pen press. Press the pen parts on to the
wood blanks.
You now have a completed pen.
One of my favorite woodworking projects is Pen Making.
The Tools required to make Pens are as follows:
1. Lathe .... I have a Jet Mini Lathe that works well for pen making.
2. Lathe Tools You will need a 1/2 Gouge for rough cutting, a skew chisel for fine details and Parting tool for making
tendons.
3. Pen mandrel This holds the pen blanks between centers while turning
4. Pen Bushings These are used to hold blanks and for sizing the blanks. Turn the wood down to the size of these
bushings. There are different size bushings for different size or types of pens.
5.Barrel trimmer used to square up the ends of the wood before putting on the mandrel. A disk sander can be used
instead of a barrel trimmer.
6. CA glue (super glue) or epoxy used to glue the brass barrel into the wood body.
7. You can buy blanks already pre drilled but if you cut your on, you will need the following:
Drill press, Vise to hold blank while drilling, drill bit (7mm for slim line kit), and saw for cutting blanks to size.
8. Sanding paper 150-1000 grit
9. Wax finish like HUT or Shell wax
10. Pen Kits, there are a lot of pen kits but most people start with a slim line kit.
These kits contain all the pen parts you need except for the wood.
Once you have everything.. You follow these easy steps:
Cut blanks to size for slim line 5/8" square and cut to the length of the brass tube plus an 1/8 inch used to square
up blank later.
Drill Hole in the blanks 7mm for slimline kits. This hole must be drilled down the center of the blanks.
Apply glue to the brass blank and insert it into the freshly drilled blanks. You may want to sand the brass tube
lightly to get better adhesion of the glue.
Once dry, square up the blanks using a barrel trimmer or disk sander.
Now put the mandrel on the lathe, put one bushing on then one pen blank, a bushing, the second pen blank and
another bushing. Now move up and tighten tail stock with live center.
Begin turning the stock until you have the size and look you want. The ends should be turned to the size of the
bushing. Leave a tiny amount for the sanding process.
Sand while lathe is running for 150 to 1000 grit paper.
You are now ready to apply wax for a finish.
Once this is done take the completed wood blanks and using a vise or pen press. Press the pen parts on to the
wood blanks.
You now have a completed pen.
WINE OR BOTTLE STOPPER
Turning a wine or bottle stopper is similar to turning a pen. Use the same lathe, same turning tools.
Start with a blank of wood 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" X 2".
This will be placed in a drill press vise ready to drill, you may want to start with a Foster 3/4" drill bit to recess
the hole depending on type bottle stopper you are using. If you do recess the hole, then center Fostner bit on
the blank and drill down 3/8 of an inch.
Next insert a 6mm drill bit and drill down 1". This will be the first step if you decide not to recess the hole.
You will need a bottle stopper mandrel, attach the mandrel to the head stock. Then screw the stopper onto the
mandrel using the 6 mm hole just drilled. Now pull up the tail stock and tighten to secure. A mandrel can be
found at the wine stopper link to the right. It takes you to the Rockler web site.
Using a skew and spindle gouge turn the stopper to desired shape. Sizes and shapes may vary.
Remove tail stock and finish turning. I use a spindle master for most of my turning work. See info page for more
on a spindle master.
Now sand using progressive grits of sand paper to 600 grit. Apply finish, this can be wax, sanding sealer, wood
turners wax or a CA finish.
Remove the turned piece and glue the head to the stopper with thick CA glue. I always use epoxy
There are a couple of different types of stainless steel stopper. Some people use a dowel in the hole and glue a
cork to the other end.
Start with a blank of wood 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" X 2".
This will be placed in a drill press vise ready to drill, you may want to start with a Foster 3/4" drill bit to recess
the hole depending on type bottle stopper you are using. If you do recess the hole, then center Fostner bit on
the blank and drill down 3/8 of an inch.
Next insert a 6mm drill bit and drill down 1". This will be the first step if you decide not to recess the hole.
You will need a bottle stopper mandrel, attach the mandrel to the head stock. Then screw the stopper onto the
mandrel using the 6 mm hole just drilled. Now pull up the tail stock and tighten to secure. A mandrel can be
found at the wine stopper link to the right. It takes you to the Rockler web site.
Using a skew and spindle gouge turn the stopper to desired shape. Sizes and shapes may vary.
Remove tail stock and finish turning. I use a spindle master for most of my turning work. See info page for more
on a spindle master.
Now sand using progressive grits of sand paper to 600 grit. Apply finish, this can be wax, sanding sealer, wood
turners wax or a CA finish.
Remove the turned piece and glue the head to the stopper with thick CA glue. I always use epoxy
There are a couple of different types of stainless steel stopper. Some people use a dowel in the hole and glue a
cork to the other end.
This shows a couple of different types
of stainless steel stoppers. A blank
and a turned stopper, not recessed.
of stainless steel stoppers. A blank
and a turned stopper, not recessed.
See below for bottle stoppers
WALL STREET II PEN KIT FROM WOODCRAFT
The picture above shows the pen kit parts, drill bit 27/64 , the wood blank and the epoxy
used to make the pen kits. The first Step is to cut the blank to length. Use the brass tube to
measure and mark the blank for cutting. Cut the blank a little longer than the brass tube. It
will be made to length later. Mark the center of the blank on the end before drilling. Drill slowly
and clean out the drill bit often or the drill bit will get hot and you will get a blow out on the
blank. As you can see in the picture I have a home made pen vise, I have used for years. It
works fine.
used to make the pen kits. The first Step is to cut the blank to length. Use the brass tube to
measure and mark the blank for cutting. Cut the blank a little longer than the brass tube. It
will be made to length later. Mark the center of the blank on the end before drilling. Drill slowly
and clean out the drill bit often or the drill bit will get hot and you will get a blow out on the
blank. As you can see in the picture I have a home made pen vise, I have used for years. It
works fine.
After the pen black is drilled. I sand the brass tube lightly before mixing epoxy to glue the
tube inside the blank. I like epoxy more than CA glue, but CA glue will work fine also. After the
pen blank has dried. I next go to the sander to square up the ends
tube inside the blank. I like epoxy more than CA glue, but CA glue will work fine also. After the
pen blank has dried. I next go to the sander to square up the ends
Once the ends are square, It is ready to be mounted on the lathe using a bushing and a pen
mandrel
mandrel
Once the blank is mounted to the lathe, and everything is tightened up. The blank is now
ready to be turned. Refer to my blog on lathe speeds for correct turning speed for pens or
other projects. There are pictures of the actual turning process on my web site. A gouge is
used to reduce the pen blank to a rough round size. A skew is then use to take the blank to
proper size. I use the spindle master instead of a skew. This smooths the blank and gets it to
the right size ready for sanding. I go through different grits of sand paper from 120 to 600
and them use micro mesh to 6000 for the sanding process. Once this is complete. I use a
finish of choice. In this case I used Hut crystal coat to finish this pen. This is a friction polish
and is applied with a cotton cloth and rubbed into the wood while the lathe is running. Once
the finish is complete the pen blank is removed from the lathe. It is assembled using a pen
vise
ready to be turned. Refer to my blog on lathe speeds for correct turning speed for pens or
other projects. There are pictures of the actual turning process on my web site. A gouge is
used to reduce the pen blank to a rough round size. A skew is then use to take the blank to
proper size. I use the spindle master instead of a skew. This smooths the blank and gets it to
the right size ready for sanding. I go through different grits of sand paper from 120 to 600
and them use micro mesh to 6000 for the sanding process. Once this is complete. I use a
finish of choice. In this case I used Hut crystal coat to finish this pen. This is a friction polish
and is applied with a cotton cloth and rubbed into the wood while the lathe is running. Once
the finish is complete the pen blank is removed from the lathe. It is assembled using a pen
vise
The following pictures may be helpful in understanding the steps needed to build the Wall
Street pen kit that I purchased from Woodcraft. The finished pen is illustrated here to the
right. These are easy pens for the beginner and fun for the experienced turner as well. I used
my Jet mini lathe and Robert Sorby turning tools
Street pen kit that I purchased from Woodcraft. The finished pen is illustrated here to the
right. These are easy pens for the beginner and fun for the experienced turner as well. I used
my Jet mini lathe and Robert Sorby turning tools
See Pen Tips page for Rattlesnake
Pen turning and pictures
Pen turning and pictures
