Ed Gerhard
Member
- Messages
- 265
- Location
- PA
This is actually a turning thing, but it's a new tool to me. If it belongs someplace else please let me know.
I've been a big fan of Pentel click-top pencils for years, and consider them to be the best mechanism of this type ever...far better than anything available from the pen kit suppliers. A few years ago I was pleased to discover from Craft Supplies a step drill that would drill out a blank for the Pentel mechanism. It was pricey, but I bought one and ended up getting another. I didn't particularly like the recommendation for jigging up the blank in the lathe so devised my own which worked very well. I made many pencils for gifts. When I went back to Craft Supplies for another drill, they were no longer being sold. Well, there's another source. And there's even a mandrel.
http://www.theperfectcollection.com/
I received today the step drill and a mandrel, and promptly drilled out a blank to try it out. I'm pretty pleased with it. I ruined my blank by turning the wall down too thin...collapsed on me...but that's my fault...tomorrow's another day. I especially like the mandrel...keeps everything turning steady even when the wall gets thin. Even though both ends of the mandrel are dimpled, I had the best results when I held the headstock end in a drill chuck.
Cheers.
I've been a big fan of Pentel click-top pencils for years, and consider them to be the best mechanism of this type ever...far better than anything available from the pen kit suppliers. A few years ago I was pleased to discover from Craft Supplies a step drill that would drill out a blank for the Pentel mechanism. It was pricey, but I bought one and ended up getting another. I didn't particularly like the recommendation for jigging up the blank in the lathe so devised my own which worked very well. I made many pencils for gifts. When I went back to Craft Supplies for another drill, they were no longer being sold. Well, there's another source. And there's even a mandrel.
http://www.theperfectcollection.com/
I received today the step drill and a mandrel, and promptly drilled out a blank to try it out. I'm pretty pleased with it. I ruined my blank by turning the wall down too thin...collapsed on me...but that's my fault...tomorrow's another day. I especially like the mandrel...keeps everything turning steady even when the wall gets thin. Even though both ends of the mandrel are dimpled, I had the best results when I held the headstock end in a drill chuck.
Cheers.