My first pen, complete!

[Dennis McGarry]

Ok here is a pic of my first pen.

Its a basic slimline kit from WC with a .25 Maple blank.

I can see that I need to work on the edges around the bushings a lot more. Plus I turned these out of round, couldnt wait until I got a drill press and drilling straight by hand is Hard!

Plus I think there is a small hairline crack in the barrel right above the center ring on the top section, guessing that came from it being a little out of round when I pressed in on.

Thanks for looking..http://content1.myyearbook.com/thumb_userimages/large/2009/05/06/10/thm_thm_phpvZfLqW.jpg

[Steve Schlumpf]

Dennis - congrats on your first pen! Looks pretty good to me! Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

[Dennis McGarry]

Thanks Steve,

I am heading out this end of the week to pick up a drill press and a band saw, What I want to do is cut out a v in the top section of the barrel, and add veneers and a different wood back in it before turning, to mimic a custom pool cue look

This trying to drill straight through the blanks with a hand drill just doesn't cut it, wasted 8 blanks trying to get one. Luckily they were only a quarter a piece

[Steve Schlumpf]

Hummmmmmmm.... more tools! Welcome to the vortex!

[John Terefenko]

Thanks Steve,

I am heading out this end of the week to pick up a drill press and a band saw, What I want to do is cut out a v in the top section of the barrel, and add veneers and a different wood back in it before turning, to mimic a custom pool cue look

This trying to drill straight through the blanks with a hand drill just doesn't cut it, wasted 8 blanks trying to get one. Luckily they were only a quarter a piece


You could also get a chuck for the lathe and drill on the lathe. It is even straighter than a drill press. You need away to hold the blank straight and still when drilling on a drill press. Yes welcome to the vortex.

[Tom Henry]

Hummmmmmmm.... more tools! Welcome to the vortex!

Vortex...:eek: SSHHHH...don't scare him off...I need company falling into this black hole...

[Dennis McGarry]

You could also get a chuck for the lathe and drill on the lathe. It is even straighter than a drill press. You need away to hold the blank straight and still when drilling on a drill press. Yes welcome to the vortex.


I thought of that method, but then I would also need a chuck for the lathe, since all I have at the moment is the faceplate and live center??

[Jim McFarland]

Congratulations on your 1st pen and I think it looks great! Very addictive hobby! You can buy a drill chuck with #2 (or #1?) Morse taper adapter at Harbor Freight for $5-10 (think I paid $7). I am no fan of HF tools but for this job their drill chuck seems to work fine.

[alex carey]

Congrats on your first pen its a looker. Looking forward to see more.

[Clara Koss]

eleganT!!!!! next time make a gothic one!!!!!jejeje:)

[Dennis McGarry]

eleganT!!!!! next time make a gothic one!!!!!jejeje:)


Any ideas for that? My wife would love it! She is wiccan!

[Dennis McGarry]

Little better pic.

The pen on the top is the first one I did, I didnt like the nib section and tried to fix it, but ended up messing up the transmission. So had to replace that.

Didnt want to waste a whole kit, so turned another and glued the transmission from the first on in place, doenst turn but pen refill still screws in and out for replacement, just a open pen now. Personl one..

That is the second pic.

[Mike Minto]

Very nice work!. mike

[Dennis McGarry]

One more.

I still need to work on getting the two pieces to match up together better and get them turned down all the way. Still have a little bit of a raise around the center ring

This one is Tulipwood

[Tom Henry]

One more.

I still need to work on getting the two pieces to match up together better and get them turned down all the way. Still have a little bit of a raise around the center ring

This one is Tulipwood

Ohhh...You are sooo in the vortex...there is no way out now...you can tell yourself there is but you are sooo wrong...

[Bernie Weishapl]

Good looking pens Dennis. The more you do the easier it is.

[Billy Tallant]

Dennis, congratulations on your 1st pens. They look good. HF chuck works ok. Definately worth the money till you decide to spend more on one. I'm currently using a HF chuck on occasion & see no reason to spend more at this time.

[Tom Wilson66]

Dennis, I've probably made over a hundred pens, and am still looking for a "perfect" pen;) So what I do is make a batch for the Freedom Pen Project, and get in lots more practice, and send all my "mistakes" overseas:D