Use a sharp pencil and small combination square to mark diagonals to mark the center point on one end of a pen blank. For dark woods, intersecting lines marked with a Sharpie can be easier to see than pencil lines. Clamp the marked blank and indent the marked center point with an awl or center punch. The indentation allows the point of the bit to self-center over the indentation when drilling the hole for the barrel.
Similar Posts
Is it round yet
Starting and stopping a lathe to check that the blank is perfectly round not only wastes time, but is hard…
Quit Guessing Grits
Unlike sheet abrasives, abrasive strips don’t have the grits marked on the back side, making it easy to lose track…
Sand this way and that
All pen barrels have to be sanded smooth, but how you do that sanding can make a big difference in…
How to make a Cabochon inlay
Use s small piece of contrasting scrap wood, plastic or Corian™ to make a unique Cabochon insert that adds interest…
Is your Turning Tool Not Sliding Smoothly? How to Fix
In addition to supporting your lathe tools the top edge of a tool rest must be nick and dent free….
How to save your mandrels with equal pressure
When applying pressure to create friction and heat to cure a finish, it is easy to place the cloth on…
