Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Pen turning tools for kids?
John K Jordan
I don't often make pens and when I do it is usually with a small skew.
We have a woodturning class for kids. What type of tool would be good for a beginner to make a pen?
I think my wife told me they used a round-nosed scraper when she took a beginner's pen turning class a some years ago. Would that work? Various woods.
JKJ
Re: Pen turning tools for kids?
Geoff Whaling
For acrylics I would suggest knocking off the corners of the blanks before giving them to kids to turn and using a round nosed scraper.
For timber a nice close grained timber and a 3/4 roughing gouge, again bandsawing off corners can be very helpful for the first one or two they turn.
Re: Pen turning tools for kids?
John K Jordan
Thanks, the blanks are all wood. I tried several tools a while ago on some small spindles and it seems that both roughing gouges and round-nosed scrapers with light burnished burr worked ok.
Theses are one hour lessons, one per week, three weeks. Last week the kids got an intro and safety lesson and they all rounded 2x2 poplar blanks with a roughing gouge. This week and next week they make something to take with them. These kids are 6-16. Some need something to stand on, some need help holding the tools. All are excited.
JKJ
Hunter mini hercules or mini osprey *LINK*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_JoR9yLiQc
Re: Hunter mini hercules or mini osprey
John K Jordan
I'll try that, I have the Osprey.
Hmmm, I wonder if it is better for the kids to cut into the bushing with the roughing gouge or the carbide bit? :-)
JKJ
Re: Pen turning tools for kids?
Doc Green
While working with a summer "kid's program" for ages 10 - 12 that our club sponsors, I've observed that they do better with a bowl gouge or spindle roughing gouge with a rather steep bevel, like 55 - 60 degrees. For the bowl gouge, use a grind where the bevel wraps up around the flute, like is shown in this article:
http://www.docgreenwoodturner.com/sharpening.html
Also, I would suggest using full-sized tools with the handle pulled against the body. Then they move the tool along the piece with a body movement, "the boogie," rather than using their arms.
Have fun! ~Doc
Re: Hunter mini hercules or mini osprey
john lucas
Put some tape around the bushing. When they see tape coming up tell them to stop. I did that the only time I taught a pen making class. It worked.
Use readily available 1/2" flute spindle gouge.
My thoughts
GaryG in MD
I use a 3/4" SRG for the whole process from roughing the square round to finishing cuts -- angled cutting, not scraping flat on the tool rest.
The cutting edge of this tool can be used exactly as you would a skew.
You get the same results without the catchiness.
The width of the cutting edge makes it easier to smooth the barrels without getting the wiggly ridges you do from narrower edges (like the Hunter tools).
I love the Hunter tools, but I find the 3/4" SRG to leave a flatter/straighter surface in my hand -- one that I generally start sanding around 220. ...GG
