Thread: What bushings for Stream line pen?

I got my bushings from Timberbits, and the center bush measures 10.7mm. It is smaller than the band's OD, but because of the rings on the band it all works very well together.

If you make a lot as i do i found using my pen mill recently I forgot and left the one bush I had made near the vac and it has gone, alas I now turn the blank to the round and use a simple caliper to guide when near to size. This suits me I have found since I used to remove that larger bush to fit a Slim bush so as to cut a rounded groove to match the Streamline centre band. I make a habit of turning with the centre part of the pen to the right hand end, then I turn the top first then next the bottom. Bear in mind I only turn half a pen at a time. This principle would work fine with the full pen on a mandrel just as well. I am presuming people mostly make a variety of pens not mostly all Streamline banded Slims like me so its a very small adjustment to make.

Aluminium makes a great bush, easy to drill and shape. You could take a centre band to a metal supplier and get the right sized solid rod, drill a slip fit to the mandrel hole in your lathe and voila you have a bush for all seasons. When yours drops in the shavings etc simply make another one or two or three.

Have fun Peter.

I agree with Chris

If you are desperate I have a spare set I can post to you if you like.

How unselfish of Rum Pig it prompted me to gaze at Davids site on Timberbits and yes they are shown there. Whilst there I found the Perfect Box to house the two pens for my Grandsons wedding next month in Melbourne, the Bride is Vietnamese so the Red is absolutely appropriate for her and I was told by my daughter the mens group are all wearing tan suits so I ordered the Red Burl Box and Tan Interior.

So Tea Lady you have choices, I also have observed you are a handy person so I extended my suggestions if you were of a mind to do it yourself as a choice.

Regards Peter.

Anne come & see us at the show on the weekend and we will do a comparison on the bushes.

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

Anne come & see us at the show on the weekend and we will do a comparison on the bushes.

OK!.

Thanks for your advice guys. I might siddle up to one of the retired fitters and turners at the Knox woodworking shed and see what they can do, if Jim can't solve it. Not that its a biggy. I've just been turning it a smidge bigger. (I like your idea of doing rings in the wood that match the center band Penpal. Was pondering something similar. )

Anne,

You really don't need bushings.
Just use your Micrometer to measure the
appropriate fittings and turn accordingly.

Les