JES WoodCrafting

Once the antler or wood is drilled, brass tubing of a specific diameter is glued into the antler or wood (called "blanks" by the way) with epoxy and allowed to cure.  

The ends of each blank must be perpendicular to the centerline of the brass tube.  A special cutter is inserted into a hand drill which is then used to trim the material flush with the end of the brass tube.

With the blanks prepared, they are slipped on a long steel shaft, called a mandrel which is itself mounted on the lathe.  Small steel rings, called "bushings" are also slipped on the mandrel and butt up against each end of each blank.  The bushings serve as a diameter guide for the finished pen size.  The bushing diameters correspond to the diameter of the finished pen parts so the finished blank meets up with the metal pen parts nice and smooth.

For this project I am using a "mini" lathe which is especially suited to small projects.  However, you can turn a pen on any lathe - I have a much larger lathe that has turned many a pen.  This mini lathe has a vacuum attachment to help collect fine dust.  No matter how you try though, you always make a huge mess! And to think people pay me to do this!