Turning the Pen Blanks
Start turning your prepared pen blanks with a spindle gouge at a higher speed to break the corners of the blank. Reduce the speed and continue turning the blanks down close to the bushing diameter. Change to a skew chisel for final turning to bring the wood to a nice smooth finish. Alternatively, you could use sandpaper on the last part to bring the wood down.
Sanding and Finishing
Sand with graduated grits starting at about 150 grit. Continue with 220, 230 etc. Up to the finest grit you have - minimum 600. Specialized abrasives like micro mesh are available for super fine finishing.
The final polishing brings your pen kit project to a dramatic conclusion. Pen turners who have been making pens for some time have established their own favourite finish. Many use a friction polish while others prefer waxes. Finishing your project on the lathe produces a wonderfully brilliant shine in seconds.
Assembling Your Pen Project
The parts from your pen kit will now press and assemble into the turned pen barrels. The nib, clip, mechanism and band will all press together for a perfectly finished pen. To make life easier, why not use one of our pen assembly presses
Instructions for turning and assembling your pens and pencils are available for download on our website.
