I only started turning pens about 12 months ago. In that time I have been using 'basic' equipment and have had mixed success.

Over the last few weeks I asked for advice from members on the forum on better equipment to use for turning and have received absolutely excellent advice from many experienced members on how to set up my lathe properly for pen turning and how to maintain it to keep it operating properly.

This involved investing some money (not a lot) in new attachments for the lathe - centres, blank vices, chucks, specially made bushes, etc, so I could dispense with the inaccurate mandrel and off centre drill press and jig (I know some of you love them and good for you). It didn't cost a lot because those experienced pen turning members gave me referrals to the best places to buy the equipment and what I needed and I also appreciate that.

Over all the whole exercise has cost very little and the results have been magic, to say the least. Before I was drilling blanks with a drill press achieving around 50% success in terms of getting the hole centred properly. Now its 100% success. Turning the blank was a wobbly experience with a mandrel, now it is perfect.

Thank you to all who have provided me with advice, pointed me in the right direction to purchase lathe gear at a good price; and made the bushes for me.

I continue to learn with the assistance of members of this forum and I appreciate your help.

BUT - I will never use anything other than Sika Poly to glue a tube in a blank