Making a Custom Wood Pen
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Introduction: Making a Custom Wood Pen
This is a pen made of Curly Maple on the top and Bocote on the bottom.
I drilled 1/4" holes and added Walnut dowels for accent.
To see more of my Pens goto http://putmanspens.wixsite.com/woodpens
Step 1: Tools and Supplies Needed
1. Wood cut to 3/4" x 3/4" x 3" to 5"
2. Wood Lathe with Pen Mandrel -- Pennstateind, Rockler, Woodcraft, Woodturningz
3. Lathe Tool - I use one with a carbide replaceable tool.
4. Drill Press
5. Vice for Pen - Pennstateind
6. 12" Disc Sander
7. Bandsaw
8. Pen Press - Pennstateind
9. Bushings - Pen State, Woodturningz
10. CA Glue - Lowes
11. 2P-10 CA Activator
12. EEE Ultra Shine
13. HUT Wax 2 and 1
14. Barrel TrimmerStep 2: Choosing and Cutting the Wood
The first step in making a Pen is to choose the style and then the wood. I have 8 different pen styles and over 57 types of wood.
1. Mark the wood with the bushings
2. Cut the wood on the Bandsaw
3. For these bushings I have them marked F (Front) and B(Back)
Step 3: Sanding Pen Blank to Glue Accent
The disc sander is required to sand the Pen Blank flat in order to glue the pieces together.
I use Gorilla Glue to glue the wood together
For small pieces, like the maple in the photo, I use a larger piece and push the small piece to the sander
Step 4: Gluing the Accent
Since I am just making one pen, I am using the vice to clamp the glued pieces. Normally I would use my parallel clamps and glue multiple pens at the same time.
For gluing I use Gorilla Glue as it is extremely strong and has not glue lines. Plus it is a lot easier to clean up.
Step 5: Marking the Blank for Dowels
As this pen has walnut dowel accents, I need to mark a pattern and drill. The dowels are 1/4" dia so I have drilled the blanks with the same size hole.
Step 6: Gluing the Dowels
I used CA Glue to glue the dowels in place by first putting thin CA in the hole and then adding thick CA and hammering the dowels in place.
Once the dowels are in I allowed the glue to dry for 20 min and sanded the dowels flush
Step 7: Drilling the Blank and Gluing the Bushing in Place
The next step is to drill the wood pen blank with the correct drill size to match the brass tube. Once the blank is drilled, I use 5 min epoxy to glue the bushing in place.
This needs to dry over night even though it is called 5 min...
Once dry, I use a barrel trimmer to assure the end of the blank is perpendicular to the brass tube glued in the bushing
Step 8: Cutting the Edges on the Bandsaw
This step I trim the pen blanks to make it easer to turn on the lathe
Step 9: Turning on the Lathe
Now I turn the pen to the bushing diameters that match the pen parts
Step 10: Sanding the Pen Blanks After Turning
Start with 220 and work up to 400 grit.. sanding with the lathe turning then off with the grain
Step 11: Applying the CA (Super) Glue to the Blanks
Now I put CA glue on a paper towel and apply to the blank at slow speed
Step 12: Sanding the CA Coating
Next I sand the CA coating again with 220 to 400 grit.
Step 13: Next I Use EE Ultra Shine to Polish the Blanks
Step 14: Next I Wax With HUT PPP #2
Step 15: Then Finish With HUT PPP #1 Wax
Step 16: Cleaning Up the CA Glue After Polishing
Step 17: Taking the Pen Parts Out of the Bags
Step 18: Now I Press the Pen Together
Step 19: Pen Assembly
Step 20: Completed Pen
Step 21: I Few of My Other Cigar Pens
1 Person Made This Project!
- Bruceputman made it!
4 Comments
5 years ago
Nice work!
Reply 5 years ago
Thank you.. I did not realize he number of processes I do to make a pen
5 years ago
What a superb craftmanship. Awesome
Reply 5 years ago
Thank you.