A high quality mini lathe is required to make high quality pens.
Pen making a specialized area of fine machining requiring a specialized lathe. These lathes are small and easy to operate. However, the lathe must be very accurate, and durable. While a "cheap" lathe may do the job for a pen or two, its inadequacies, such as losing its grip on the workpiece, quickly become apparent. If you are involved, or wish to become involved, with pen-making, do it the right way by obtaining a quality lathe right from the beginning.
Mini Lathe Criteria
Pen making tutor, Kevin Brady, sets the criteria for good quality mini lathes (see reference 1, top left of page). Mr. Brady states that the lathe should have cast iron components, instead of aluminum or stamped metal components. This would include the head stock, the tail stock, and the bed. The headstock is the part the motor drives. The tailstock holds the other end of the pen. The bed is what the head and tail stock mount to. He further states that the lathe should be capable of operating at several speeds.
Penn State Lathes
Penn State Industries markets a variety of mini lathes that meet Mr. Brady's criteria (see reference 2). All the lathes feature cast iron components, and all operate at variable speeds. One lathe, the Turncrafter Commander, has computerized speed control. The turning speed is variable from 150 to 4,000 RPM, with a digital readout of the speed. This lathe also has a bed extension option, so long turnings can be made up to 40 inches long (see reference 3).
Metal Mini Lathe
If you want to make pens out of metal, a metal mini lathe is required. Mini-machinist Ty Hoeffer uses a unique metal turning mini lathe for his work. His lathe is the Central Machinery 7 x 10 mini lathe (see reference 4). It features all cast or machined steel components, and is adjustable for precision machine work. Its capacity of the workpiece is a 7 inch diameter circle with a length of 10 inches, hence its name. This is more than big enough to make pens. With this lathe, you can make some very decorative pens out of stainless steel, aluminum, or a variety of metals.
Tags: mini lathe, Mini Lathe, cast iron, cast iron components, high quality, iron components, lathe required
