Parts for the key chain.
Securing
the tube
I use a thick superglue to secure the tube in the blank. I have had good
luck with this method over the years. However, I have noticed that occasionally
the tubes do come loose and require re-gluing.
Recent advances in adhesive technology have produced different glues that
other pen makers are using with excellent results. One such product is
the new group of polyurethane adhesives. They are even being touted as
a “stick to anything” glue! I have not used them, so I can’t
really comment on their effectiveness; but enough people are using them
for me to seriously consider doing so myself.
Thread the tube onto the tube insertion tool, apply the glue, and push
it into position in the blank. I always stand the blank vertically on
my workbench until the glue sets–about 15 minutes should do it.
Trim off any excess material on the chop saw, cutting up to, but not touching,
the brass tube. Remove any glue that might have seeped into the ends of
the tube with a sharp pen knife.
I always like to flood the two surfaces that show the veneers with superglue
to bond any of the joints that might have separated because of the heat
generated during drilling. I use the thin superglue for this task.
The blank is mounted on the lathe mandrel with 1mm
bushings. Extra bushings are used to fill out the
remaining length of the mandrel. |
Locate the center of the ends of the blank and drill a 10mm hole
through the blank using the drill press.Mounting
the blank on the lathe
Because the tubes are hollow, a mandrel system must be used to mount the
blank on the lathe. I like to keep the turnings as close to the headstock
of the lathe as possible and I use any extra bushings to “fill out”
the remaining unused length of the mandrel bar. I think this eliminates
much of the vibration that leads to chatter. This chatter tends to produce
turnings that aren’t very smooth and that are difficult to sand.
Turning
Once the blank is securely mounted on the mandrel, I begin the turning
process with a sharp roughing gouge. I turn the blank until it just comes
into “round” and all the flat spots have been removed. Hopefully,
the outside diameter of the blank will fall somewhere close to 5/8"
in diameter. If it doesn’t, you can simply turn it into a smooth
cylinder whose outside diameter matches that of the end bushings. This
is certainly better than throwing away the blank and starting over–after
all, someone will eventually purchase it!
I remove the key chain blank from the lathe at this point and I make sure
that the brass tube is perpendicular to the wood. I do this on the disc
sander. Be sure to support the blank with a mitre gauge and be careful
I use thick superglue to secure the tube in the blank. Be sure to
“rough up” the shinny tube with a small piece of 120-grit
abrasive
paper before applying the glue—it sticks better.....
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