Thread: Pen Press recomendations

Hey Jack. This is the one I've been using for the past 2 years. Never had a problem. There might be better ones out there, but this is the only one I have ever used. I note the Timberbits have a new model on their site now. Looks good !.
Here is mine CWS Store - Pen Assembly Press | Carroll's Woodcraft Supplies

The only one I can see on the timberbits store is the same one I have been using for about 2 years and it is very ordinary.

Let us know what you end up doing. As a beginner I haven't sprung for one yet - still using a smallish ratcheting bar clamp. Thought I'd wait and see a few varieties at the Bris wood show.

Hey Jack,

I have a Pen Press from GPW, have had it for about 3 years, haven't had one problem, and done over 3000 pens, hasn't missed a beat.

HazzaB

I've never used a pen press as such , my old bench drill is pretty solid and I use that,mainly because its easy to line up the parts vertically and control the amount of pressure being applied ,also easy to see if things are not quite in line and make adjustments cheers~ John

When I started I used the lathe, made up two wooden plugs for the head and tail stock. I found working in the horizontal plane a pain and dropped too many bits into the shavings on the floor. When I bought a decent drill press (pops shed) I started using that with a flat head bolt in the jaws. Works a treat and much easier to line things up in the vertical. You can make jigs to control how far you push in mechanisms etc but I don't bother.

Originally Posted by HazzaB

Hey Jack,

I have a Pen Press from GPW, have had it for about 3 years, haven't had one problem, and done over 3000 pens, hasn't missed a beat.

HazzaB

That's good enough for me, just ordered it.

Originally Posted by Jack.Tar

Which pen press to you guys use? Where did you buy it from and if you had the choice would you buy it again?

I have pretty much had enough of dealing with my timberbits one, it was pretty ordinary to start with but now bits are bending and I am cracking pens left and right.

Anyone have one of the GPW ones? This is the one I am considering but I am weary because it looks a touch like the timberbits one.

Cheers.

Jack Tar, if it is the one pictured with the red handle on David's site then I am surprised, I have had mine for quite a while now and have not had a problem. I am not saying though you can't have problems. you have said parts have bent, now I am not exactly a small fella and I know I can exert a fair force on things but man you must be strong

I know I did crack pens when i first started to use the press, operator error it was, not doing the small simple things right to start with for me. As I said I love mine, nothing bent and works great, you may have got one bad one out of a batch of good ones. are you able to post a photo of the problem press?

Have you contacted David about this issue as he may not see every post and having dealt with him for some time he does not like his customers to have a problem.

Hey don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at timberbits as a matter of fact there are only two places I buy from and he is one of them. I have gotten a good 2 years out of a $40 machine which is pretty impressive by anyones standards, it has just finaly given up the ghost and the place I am getting the other one from is the other shop I use. Mainly because he is the only one out of the two that has bullet pens.

Originally Posted by Jack.Tar

Hey don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at timberbits as a matter of fact there are only two places I buy from and he is one of them. I have gotten a good 2 years out of a $40 machine which is pretty impressive by anyones standards, it has just finaly given up the ghost and the place I am getting the other one from is the other shop I use. Mainly because he is the only one out of the two that has bullet pens.

Hehe ! check with David re bullet pens ,he may surprise you cheers ~ John

Is this the press you ordered?
I have had one for a couple of years and wouldn't be without it. Spring loaded at one end to hold all your parts together so that you don't have to hold them in place as you advance the handle. Built strong, but you have plenty of feel when pressing together, especially that last bit before the parts come together.

That's the one.

Arbor press, purchased for $24.99 at the "Made in China" tool store, originaly designed to press bearings and u-joints but works great as a pen press, perfect leverage, un-breakable and modifies easily.

I just use a multi-purpose vice I bought at one of the woodwork shows. Glued a couple of pieces of wood over metal retainers that fit on the jaws (Thompy's suggestion) and it works like a charm. The tension applied can be precise as it has a crank handle to wind the jaws together. Haven't lost a kit since.