Text Box: Use your caliper to size tenons? Taking the sharp edge of the caliper helps to keep it from grabbing when you're sizing a tenon. Text Box: Lose track of those bushings? I keep sets of bushings straight by putting them on a shower hook and label them as to what kind of kit they work for. Text Box: Is your drill press drilling plumb? This jig will let you check the level of the table. Turn it to each side while raising the table. When it touches both edges evenly, the table is square to the quill. Text Box: Extra Sized Jumbo Jaws Need some special sized or type of jumbo jaws, expand your current ones by adding plywood plates. Then you can move the buttons where you want for odd sized or shaped pieces. Text Box: Pen Press Tip Have an old pen press, update it with a few blocks like the new ones have. My Version Store Bought version Text Box: Five more tips from Michael Gaule on 2/5/08 TIP #1 The first picture is on one side of my flip top sharpening center. I used some one by’s, screwed and glued them to the sides and then screwed pegboard on it. I have clips for my extra tool rests and also my sharpening jigs, etc, and I never loose my wheel dressing tool now.   TIP #2 the second tip is a picture of a storage block for adapters, live centers and chuck screws in a simple block 4 x 6 x 8, that I drilled holes to match sizes of components I frequently use when turning, it’s also convenient to carry from one lathe to another and I always know where pencils are. . TIP #3 CA STORAGE-I planed and then glued 3- 2x4’s 6 inches long together. When they dried I then drilled 2 rows of 3 holes, the back three 1/2 " shallower than the from 3, if space permits drill a third row between the 2 others, can never have enough storage. I then tilted my bandsaw top 20 degrees and turned the block on its front edge, the cut needs to be from the back top corner to the front. This can be done on the tablesaw but you will have to make two cuts. It would be safer to make a longer block that you can rip in one pass or don’t rip at all! The 3 front holes hold the 3 different viscosity CA glue I use, the accelerator, extra bottles of CA glue and the most important item of all the "debonding agent"! reside in the back row.   TIP #4 Using spray lubricant on a bandsaw blade is a fairly common practice but where to keep the spray handy is this tip. I bought a 90degree welder’s magnetic clamp, put it on the bandsaw post and put the can on the other edge. It has never fallen and is in easy reach to lube the blade. I use the generic spray, works well. Just don't use the spray with flour added!   TIP#5 I use a 5" magnetic dish on my lathe and also on my bandsaw to hold anything from tailcenters to allen wrenches, these 5" dishes are much more powerful than the 3" dishes that are used for smaller items like screws.   Text Box: If you have ever hand sanded anything you know hard it is to use the sandpaper evenly before you throw it away. If you fold the paper it gets ruined fast. This is because the folded part slips and rubs against itself and slips in your hand.     Next time you get a new sheet, try this- spray adhesive on the back of the sandpaper, let it get tacky- 2-3 min. and fold in half. You now have a smaller sheet that is double sided and wont slip in your hand. I like to cut these sheets into four smaller ones but you can do whatever you need. I’ve never used different grits on the same sheet but you can. 3M makes a good spray and so does Scotch. You will like the way it won’t slip in your hand and it lasts longer. The only way you can screw this up is if you glue the wrong side- and I’m not saying that I have.                                                                                         p.s.- this is great on furniture where an orbital can’t go                                                                                             Paul Burk                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Mike Gaule's Pen Press  2/4/08 A tip for assembling pens using your drill press Drill Press Pen Press The hammer has a 1 1/2" long tenon that has a diameter to fit in your chuck. The anvil can be turned to any size you like but make it close to the dimensions below for these reasons, 1) the thicker the anvil the more strength it has, 2) if you damage the top you can rechuck it and turn it flat. ANVIL-Use a block of wood 5-6 in. long 2-3 in. across, Start by turning the block round between centers then turn a dovetail on the top end to fit your scroll chuck, or use a glue block. Rechuck the blank, bring up tailstock turn anvil to final dimensions, bring tenon down close to size and to 3/4 " long test fit in the hole in your drill press table, if you use an after market top, drill a hole in a sacrificial insert, turn the tenon to fit. When the tenon fits tight then part the anvil off be sure to square the top, this is very important. If it’s not square you need to remount on the lathe and square it. You want the tenon to fit tight in the hole, it should not spin when in use. HAMMER-Turn a 4 in. long 1 1/2 " block round, turn to these dimensions, tenon 1 1/2" long and 3/8 to 7/16" round for a half inch chuck, the hammer needs to be between 3/4 to 1" long but no longer, it can be wider but you want the hammer shorter by 50% to the tenon, (i.e. 1 1/2" long tenon = 3/4" hammer) If you are going to use this strictly for pen assembly you can turn a slight depression in the hammer, otherwise you want the head dead flat. Install the hammer into the chuck, DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN, EACH TIME THE FIBERS GET CRUSHED, THE TENON WEAKENS, as long as it doesn’t fall out or spin, THAT’S TIGHT ENOUGH!. Check that the hammer and anvil tops are square and dead flat to each other. The most important consideration is using the hardest, densest wood you can find. This one is made from a chakte kok or redheart. and has held up exceptionally well considering over a 100 pens have been assembled on it, along with other uses. This is a very easy way to have a small press in your shop without buying additional equipment. Press away.