Claro Walnut Pen

That’s a very beautiful pen! Nice work!

How do you turn pens between centers? Do you have a link or blog explaining how? I can imagine a bunch of ways that would work, but I have never tried.

Thanks for sharing!

-Brian

Thanks, Brian.

Turning between centers uses a live center in the tailstock and a dead center in the headstock. You place the blank between the two (only 1 blank at a time, of course) and turn it as you would as if it were on a mandrel. But because there is no mandrel, you don’t need to worry about the flex from tightening the tailstock or from tool pressure. The result is a much more true turning. From there you can take it to the next level and toss the bushings and use calipers dialed in to the hardware sizes the piece will fit in to, having the dead and live centers in the tube of the blank itself. That’s a bit more tricky; it’s easy to round over your ends when sanding if you’re not careful.

-- John

Very nice pen!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

I’ve looked at this pen of yours just about every way possible. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL!! I’m just getting into turning pens. I’m sure I’ll be checking back on your work.

Loved the detail. I’ll have to check out the finish you used, too. That really makes a difference.

-- Glen, Pennsylvania, Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."