A Must kit for a Pen Turner, 11.15.2009

Reviewer: Chuck (Oxford, MI)

This kit is a must for a pen turner, flexible for all pen/pencil kits we've made.. Also, not hard to sharpen when dulled..

A great tool to have, 11.11.2009

Reviewer: Jim Larsen (Olympia, WA)

It is nice to know I have every kit covered in this versatile kit. I only wish I had the carbide cutter head, because the steel in this one does not hold up well when it hits the brass.

Barrel Trimmer works., 9.15.2009

Reviewer: Duane McGuire (Clinton, UT)

By creating an end surface guaranteed to be perpendicular to the bored axis, this tool is essential for pen turning. It's hard to imagine how else you could achieve the same accuracy. Perfect.

Good tool for the money..., 9.1.2009

Reviewer: Karen Pike (Janesville, WI)

I do about half of my pens in Corian and other solid surface materials. The cutter head seems to get pretty dull after just a few pens out of solid surface materials. In retrospect, I should have bought the carbide tipped version for the plastic pens. Maybe I'll do that so that I can keep this steel cutter just for wood, probably would be better and stay sharper that way. That being said - it is a great tool to assure the proper fit of the finished pen. I had used a belt sander in the past and wasn't always satisfied with the final fit of wood to pen parts. This tool has completely solved that particular problem for me.

DEFINATLY NOT WORTH THE PRICE, 7.20.2009

Reviewer: Dan Arnold (Canon City, CO)

I'm very disappointed in the one I got. It looked like it was used and had been laying in the parking lot getting run over for a month. It was duller than a butter knife and just wanted to split and blow out the blocks when I tried to use it. I had to sit and use a Diamond Whetstone on it for an hour to get it sharp enough to use. After working it over several times with a Diamond Whetstone I finally got it to cut like its supposed to and should have been in the first place. Then I found out the steel its made out of isn't good tool steel. It wont keep its edge and needs to be resharpened after trimming only 4 or 5 blocks. Unless they are really hard wood then its only good for a couple of blocks. DO NOT BUY THIS unless you are good at sharpening tools.

A must have item, 7.14.2009

Reviewer: Matthew Crump (Kansas City, MO)

Don't waste time trying to get by with just sanding the ends of your blanks like I did. You can get a much faster, cleaner end that is absolutely square with this set!

great little kit, 7.7.2009

Reviewer: Tony Fredericks (Hayward, CA)

I've used this for both 7mm and 10mm pen sets and it works extremely well. I recommend getting this instead of just the 7mm set as you can use it for several sizes and the price is very fair.

Barrel Trimmer, 6.10.2009

Reviewer: Michael Mudge (Valencia, CA)

Great tool, easy to use and works well. One suggestion, mark the size on the parts.

Barrell trimming set, 5.17.2009

Reviewer: Steinar Vissebraten (Nesbyen, Bus)

Excellent and nice

Works but..., 3.31.2009

Reviewer: Matt Jones (Imperial, CA)

This barrel trimming set works alright but it would be much easier to trim the barrels with a sanding disc and a squaring jig. I have found that, depending on the wood, it can be very easy to tear out the wood at the end of the pen blank. I have had no problem with the woods like olive or lignum vitae, but tear out on the ends of the blank happened easily on maple and cherry. The only reason you might pick this tool in addition to a sanding disc and square jig would be to clean out excess glue from the barrel. I havent figured out how to use any shop tools to accomplish this otherwise.

Buy the whole system first, 3.24.2009

Reviewer: Aaron Drake (College Station, TX)

As a recommendation to beginners, it is well worth it to purchase the seven piece set first. It also helps to hone the cutter prior to use. This kit comes with great packaging and is built to last.

Work's Great, 3.16.2009

Reviewer: Kenneth Risberg (Jacksonville, FL)

Great tool and work's well

7pc Universal Barrel Trimming System: Steel Cutter, 3.15.2009

Reviewer: Jennings Frink (Aransas Pass, TX)

It seems to dull to work well, for me, a Disk Sander works much better.

Must have, 3.12.2009

Reviewer: Allan Schiro (Poway, CA)

This barrel trimming set is a must have if you plan on progressing in pen making. The more advanced pen kits differ in sizes.This set covers them all and helps me get it right.

Recommend, 3.12.2009

Reviewer: Ken Schaaf (McAllen, TX)

Great tool easy to use and change.

Good barrel trimmer, 3.11.2009

Reviewer: Dwight Lundeen (Brooklyn Park, MN)

Satisfied with this starter trimmer. If you are serious about making pens I would spend the extra and get the carbide trimmer.

It'll work when sharp., 3.10.2009

Reviewer: Al Neighbors (Childress, TX)

I had to sharpen my Steel Cutter when I got it, because it just skated around on the wood. There wasn't any bevel to the edge, and the edge wasn't sharp. I sharpened mine, adding a slight bevel, with a dremel drum sander, and it worked fine. I recommend the Carbide cutter...

A must for pen makers, 8.21.2008

Reviewer: Michael Brady (Fredericksburg, VA)

This tool is an essential part of pen making for me. It will square the blanks quickly and accurately. Before buying this I owned a cheaper version of the same thing and it didn't last a full 4 months. This is a much more durable and higher quality tool.

A Must-have for Pen Makers, 4.13.2008

Reviewer: Grant Barlow (Galena, IL US, )

When I first started turning pens, I would square off the barrels by holding the blank (with inserted tube) against my miter gauge and push it into my disk sander until the excess wood was removed. Then I discovered Penn State's Universal Squaring Jig. I was now squaring the blanks correctly, but it only really works with 7mm blanks. I now use the barrel trimmer set. For pens with tubes larger than supplied in the set, I turn adapters that slide over the 7mm trimmer and fit inside the larger tube. Sharpening the trimmer: I found the best way to dress the cutting edge is with a diamond file. I touch-up the edge every 8 to 10 blanks.

Keep sharp., 8.7.2007

Reviewer: Ronald Bryan (Phoenix, AZ US, )

Tool works well if you keep the trimmer head sharp. the 7MM. barrel will widen your tubes if you don't keep the tool really tight in your drill chuck. if it does come loose it will ruin the shaft, so just check it often.