Hey all,
I wouldn't consider myself a new turner but also definitely not an expert. I've probably made around 10-15 pens previously and then a few other random projects.
I would say about half of my segmented pen blanks explode while turning. I think I'm doing something fundamentally wrong but I just can't figure it out.
I was hoping I could go through my steps and there's something obvious I'm doing wrong. I hope it's something simple as I'm just getting very frustrated as I put a lot of time into my blanks.
When gluing up the segments, I use Titebond 1 wood glue. I let it dry overnight at a minimum.
I then drill on the lathe, no issues there.
I then use StickFast medium glue to glue the tubes in. I put the glue on 3 sides of the tube and twist it and bring it in and out a little bit while putting it in the blank. The tube is pre-sanded. I let that dry overnight at a minimum, though for the most recent explosions they dried for weeks because it got very hot here and I didn't want to go outside.
For segmented blanks, I do barrel trimming using sandpaper and punches on the lathe. An actual barrel trimmer might rip the segments apart so I avoid it, but wanted to share in case that's important.
I then use a sander to sand off the corners and round it out a little bit.
For turning, I turn between centers. I have an Excelsior mini-lathe whose tail stock tends to slip, so I put a Bessey clamp across it and tighten that up so that I can then tighten the tail stock without slipping and get it tight.
I originally used the Rockler brand carbide tools but I thought maybe they were too cheap so bought this kind instead, which are well reviewed: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B013KCGZAS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've barely used the cutter on this one but I do feel like it's not cutting well and I have to push a little bit to get a cut. I'm using the square cutter. I am coming in at a perpendicular angle and lining the blade right or slightly below the center line of the blank. At some point it just feels like it catches and then a portion of the blank will fly off. What's interesting to me is the break doesn't start on a glue seam, it actually starts on just a random spot on the wood.
In this image you can see where there must have been a catch and a chunk was taken out, and then a bunch more broke too (I'm trying to glue it back together but I think it's too late for this one):
I can post pictures of the other recent blank explosion too if we think it's helpful.
I suspect most of you will hone in on the carbide blade. I'd really like to keep using them as I don't know how to sharpen or use anything else. But I also don't want my blanks to explode.
Thanks so much for reading all of this and I appreciate any advice! I really enjoy turning but I only have so much free time so losing all that time making a blank just to have it explode at the end is quite frustrating.
I wouldn't consider myself a new turner but also definitely not an expert. I've probably made around 10-15 pens previously and then a few other random projects.
I would say about half of my segmented pen blanks explode while turning. I think I'm doing something fundamentally wrong but I just can't figure it out.
I was hoping I could go through my steps and there's something obvious I'm doing wrong. I hope it's something simple as I'm just getting very frustrated as I put a lot of time into my blanks.
When gluing up the segments, I use Titebond 1 wood glue. I let it dry overnight at a minimum.
I then drill on the lathe, no issues there.
I then use StickFast medium glue to glue the tubes in. I put the glue on 3 sides of the tube and twist it and bring it in and out a little bit while putting it in the blank. The tube is pre-sanded. I let that dry overnight at a minimum, though for the most recent explosions they dried for weeks because it got very hot here and I didn't want to go outside.
For segmented blanks, I do barrel trimming using sandpaper and punches on the lathe. An actual barrel trimmer might rip the segments apart so I avoid it, but wanted to share in case that's important.
I then use a sander to sand off the corners and round it out a little bit.
For turning, I turn between centers. I have an Excelsior mini-lathe whose tail stock tends to slip, so I put a Bessey clamp across it and tighten that up so that I can then tighten the tail stock without slipping and get it tight.
I originally used the Rockler brand carbide tools but I thought maybe they were too cheap so bought this kind instead, which are well reviewed: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B013KCGZAS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've barely used the cutter on this one but I do feel like it's not cutting well and I have to push a little bit to get a cut. I'm using the square cutter. I am coming in at a perpendicular angle and lining the blade right or slightly below the center line of the blank. At some point it just feels like it catches and then a portion of the blank will fly off. What's interesting to me is the break doesn't start on a glue seam, it actually starts on just a random spot on the wood.
In this image you can see where there must have been a catch and a chunk was taken out, and then a bunch more broke too (I'm trying to glue it back together but I think it's too late for this one):
I can post pictures of the other recent blank explosion too if we think it's helpful.
I suspect most of you will hone in on the carbide blade. I'd really like to keep using them as I don't know how to sharpen or use anything else. But I also don't want my blanks to explode.
Thanks so much for reading all of this and I appreciate any advice! I really enjoy turning but I only have so much free time so losing all that time making a blank just to have it explode at the end is quite frustrating.