Thread: A batch of Executive Clickers

Thought I'd show the York Gum and Rib Fruited Mallee together as they share some of the same colouring yet have contrasting grain patterns. York Gum on top, Rib Fruited Mallee on the bottom.

And finally a group shot.

Quite simply...WOW!

Originally Posted by Old Hilly

I am surprised that some enterprising person involved in pen turning hasn't developed a track for a hand/battery drill that would hold both the blank and guide the drill bit into the blank. I can see the idea in my mind but getting it out and into reality could be the problem.

Mr. Hilly you kind of have that ability in your lathe.

Chuck up the blank in a 4 jaw chuck and put a drill bit in a Jacobs chuck in the tailstock. Peck drill as far as the tailstock travel allows and then release the tailstock lock and pull it back to clear the drill flutes and then push it but back in to drill a little more, repeating until finished. You don't need to lock the tailstock, just push with your right hand, using the left to hold the chuck back against the Morse taper so it doesn't come loose. Don't run the lathe fast while doing this. A few hundred rpm or your lowest belt speed is sufficient.

Pete

Well, you are right there Pete but some people just want to turn little things like pens. They don't have a big lathe or even a "midi" lathe so by the time you subtract the thickness if a 4 jaw chuck or a pen blank chuck, then the thickness of a jacobs chuck on the other end you are running out of room for a long blank and a drill bit. And a 4 jaw chuck and adaptor bushing is almost half the price of my lathe. Or more than half the price if I buy something with a fancy package and a velvet bag to store it in.
But if there was such a thing it would carry a premium price anyway because it's for our enjoyment and enjoyment is almost always expensive.