Thread: 10 y.o. daughter helps make pen for her teacher

Fantastic to see and a great looking pen to boot!!!

Congratulations to Mel.

Congratulations Mel nicely done thats a fine looking pen )

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well done should get plenty of brownie points on that one

Firstly good on you Mel. I have always tried to get my grandson involved with any projects around the place, esp woodwork. And he is actually quite good with most of the tools now except the high speed stuff like angle grinders etc.
Now my question. I have just got in some basics to convert into a pen or two and yesterday drilled my first tester of a blank. Lovely new sharp 7mm drill. Very patiently drilled through the length of one brass tube (53mm approx) with my el cheapo drill press only to find that on the other end I had a nice oval hole instead of round like the starting end.
How much latitude can be allowed when glueing in the tubes? As if I need better accuracy it looks like I will have to drill in the lathe. I have not yet decided which glue I will use either any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as to which may be better (or what will take up the slack in the oval hole?)

Well done Mel (and Dad). Mel, the cutting and drilling in the for instance are just as important as the shaping and the sanding and polishing are the steps that really make a pen shine. I wish my 17yr old would show your interest.

Newqlder - read this thread (as browse for others over the last few years).
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f69/dr...blanks-157420/

Your blank may be recoverable, depends how big the oval is and if you're matching acrylic pattern or timber grain. It might suit a streamline middle section. Or you could just put it aside as a lesson. We all have more than one of those.

Lots of threads on glues and the whole process in general.

Originally Posted by dabbler

Well done Mel (and Dad). Mel, the cutting and drilling in the for instance are just as important as the shaping and the sanding and polishing are the steps that really make a pen shine. I wish my 17yr old would show your interest.

Newqlder - read this thread (as browse for others over the last few years).
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f69/dr...blanks-157420/

Your blank may be recoverable, depends how big the oval is and if you're matching acrylic pattern or timber grain. It might suit a streamline middle section. Or you could just put it aside as a lesson. We all have more than one of those.

Lots of threads on glues and the whole process in general.

Lots of good stuff in that link. Thanks again.
John

Well done Andrew, the smile on her face says it all. The 11 year old kid next door (boy) has been pestering me to teach him how to turn pens for the past 6 months. So early yesterday morning, before the tropical heat inside the shed got too bad, he came in for his first lesson. We only got through to the sanding stage of the blank when he said he was bored with it all, and was going home. Bugger me !!!!.

Well done to your daughter on the pen.

Originally Posted by newqlder

Lovely new sharp 7mm drill. Very patiently drilled through the length of one brass tube (53mm approx) with my el cheapo drill press only to find that on the other end I had a nice oval hole instead of round like the starting end.

Some pics of your blank may help with the diagnosis... is the exit hole nicely cut around the oval, or has some material been broken away?

The material makes a difference, as "sharp" is not always best. It is for wood, but not particularly for plastics/acrylics.

You'll read about putting a sacrificial piece underneath, cutting overlength and drilling a blind hole then cutting to length to expose the hole, magic speeds, special lubricants, etc. etc.
or,
you can check the recommendations from plastic manufacturers about the correct drill geometry to use, follow that, and have no dramas

Generally, take the sharp cutting lip off a drill bit for use in plastic, so that it scrapes the material away, rather than cutting it.

An oval exit hole suggests there may be movement in the blank as it's being drilled - does your el-cheapo drill press have any wobbles?

Cheers,
Andrew

Proud Dad, proud daughter, happy teacher - all good!
Great to see kids helping dads in the workshop instead of using Playstations etc.

Congratulations to Mel on a job well done.

Alan..

What a good idea. Might get my son making one for his teacher.

Well done Mel. Your teacher will love that pen.

Well now, you just go girl!

Great result Mel ... keep up the good work.

Well done Andrew for introducing her to pen
turning and may she go on to bigger and better things.

Allan