h2>Looking For Pen Blanks Turning ? Then This is Where You Want to Be
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 FROM BIG ISLAND Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Wood Bottle Stop Blank Turning 6  US $5.00
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 CORIAN Turning Stock Orange White US $8.99
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 CORIAN Turning Stock Maroon White US $8.99
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 AlohaRedwood Burl Wood pen blanksOutstanding US $19.95
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 Aloha Jarrah Burl Wood pen blanksDa Art Kine US $12.50
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 Aloha Buckeye BurlPen blanksAmazing Color and FigureDa Kine US $24.95
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 AlohaHawaiian Nepal AlderExotic Wood Pen BlanksWW US $9.95
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 CEDAR HEARTWOOD PEN BLANKS WAX SEALED US $6.00
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 1 x1x12 Gabon Ebony 10 pieces Lumber wood 4 turning scales Pen Blank Gaboon 2 US $49.99
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 2 x2 x16 Gabon Ebony pieces Lumber wood 4 turning scales Pen Blank Gaboon 1 US $29.99
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 CEDAR HEARTWOOD PEN BLANKS 6 INCH WAX SEALED US $6.00
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 CEDAR HEARTWOOD PEN BLANKS 5 INCH WAX SEALED US $6.00
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 Satinwood Ceylon lumber exotic wood hardwood kd US $650.00
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 Bushings to suit Baron II pen kits pen blanks US $7.00
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 Okies Laminated Pen Blanks Set 22 12 DIFFERENT COLOR PATTERNS US $14.99
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Best way to drill pen blanks with no press?
I don't have a drill press, but I love turning pens and other small items. What's the best way for me to drill blanks without a press? Space is at a premium in my home and I just don't have room for one...
A small bench drill press only takes up one square foot of bench/ table space.
The fixture I will describe below will take up more room on the bench but will be lighter to move and store when not in use.
I you own an electric drill, you can make a wooden fixture that you clamp the drill into.
Position the drill motor horizontally on a piece of plywood with a long Drill Bit installed in the chuck.
You will need to make some spacer blocks to support the drill motor so that the drill bit is parallel to the wooden base.
These can be carved or saw cut,
You need at least three blocks; 1 just behind the drill chuck, 1 under the motor and 1 under the handle.
Cutting or carving a slight V in the top of the blocks will keep the drill motor from moving around when you clamp it down.
Some experimenting with the height of the blocks will get the drill motor positioned correctly.
You then can make a wooden hold down that goes over the drill motor.
Use two carriage bolts and wing nuts to hold the hold down.
To position the pen blank, you need a V block made out of wood.
This you can screw down to the plywood base, after some testing to position it correctly.
You may want to cut finger notches in the pen blank V block as you need to be able to hold the pen blank and push it in to the running drill bit.
If you make different diameter pen blanks, you will need a different height V block for each pen blank, or shims to add or remove height from one V block.
In this case, instead of screwing down the pen blank V block, screw down to the base two, 1/2" by 1/2" by 4" pieces of wood on either side of the V block.
This gives you the option of just pushing/ sliding the entire V block and the pen blank into the drill bit.
You can add a separate toggle switch or a light switch and a receptacle to plug the drill motor into, to turn on and off the drill motor.
Tape the drill motor switch in the on position and use the toggle switch to turn on/ off the drill motor, this gives you both hands free to work the pen blank.
You should use what is called a center drill bit to start the hole in the pen blank.
This is a short, ridge drill that will accurately start the hole, then switch to the long drill bit to finish the hole.
Another option, since you have a lathe, get a tail stock drill chuck and drill the pen blank while the the pen blank is still in the lathe.
If you need more help building the fixture, You can click on my Avatar picture, go to my Activity page and email me.
Wingman