First off I did order myself a pen making kit from rockler.com website.  I also had placed an order for a set of cole jaws from Amazon website.  and I ordered a bit of wood from Cook Woods out of Kalamath Oregon.  Going to give them a try for bowl blanks their pricing is reasonable and ships rather fast if you're on the west coast.  The coal jaws I havent quite got figured out as of yet, but once I get them set up I'm sure I'll be good to go.  As for cook wooks I'm not sure of them as of yet but they may be receiving more orders.  Not sure what the heck is up with UPS lately but I had a tool stolen out of a package I had ordered for a sander and yea wasn't thrilled with that but I got a refund for the trouble.  The pen kit should be fun to try out I did order that off the rockler page.  decent price as well get quite a few things with it including an MT2 turning jig for your lathe.  So not too bad plus all the right drill bits youll need.  So that should be fun and interesting to get into.  Not to sure what everybody else's thoughts are on pen turning but I would like to give it a go.  Also I'm not quite sure what to make of the odd angled cut maple blanks.  Either way shouldn't be too much of an issue.  If you guys have any suggestions for pen turning I'm all ears.  (it wasn't a cheap kit)

Christmas came early for you!

 

I've turned some pens over the years. They make excellent gifts. There are several sites that cater to pen turners and have specialized parts. I'll try to put together a list for you. I usually but my pen turning supplies from one source- Woodcraft. That way I know bushings, kits and tools will all work together.

 

Your Cole jaws look nice. Pretty easy to swap these for the jaws on the chuck- don't lose the screws in a pile of shavings 

 

I get emails from Cooks Woods daily. They have some beautiful selections. I haven't purchased from them, however.

I am at work so cannot give you any pen sites. The one I can remember is IAP - International Association of Penturners. There is a lot that can be done with making pen blanks but it is just not something I enjoy. Got a boatload of blanks just always something elsein the way.

Some pen supply sites-

https://www.arizonasilhouette.com/

 

https://www.woodturningz.com/PageError.aspx?prevurl=/Pen_Kit_Parts.html

 

https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cl/1/Pen-Making

 

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/pen-turning-supplies.html

 

https://www.turnerswarehouse.com/

 

https://www.bereahardwoods.com/

 

https://www.packardwoodworks.com/pm.html

 

https://www.exoticblanks.com/Pen-Making-Supplies/

 

https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/pen-turning-supplies.aspx

 

https://www.ptreeusa.com/turn_projects_pen_index.html

 

https://www.thewoodturningstore.com/pen-making/pens-pencil-kits/

 

https://woodpenpro.com/

 

https://rizaydog.webs.com/penturningsupplies.htm

 

https://www.beartoothwoods.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=35

 

 

 

That is a long list.

Check with @HandyDan,  @Charles Nicholls, and @Gunny. They are all pen turners. I know we have more but just can't remember off the top of my head.

 

BTW- the site that @Gerald mentioned is  https://www.penturners.org/ 

I generally don't buy pen kits.  I have been known to engineer pens and bullet casings to work together and various other methods to create custom pens.  If you would like that info I will lead you to it.

Alot can be done with small amounts of wood tom make pens.  Your limit is your imagination.

 

 

I use a piece of 3/4 shelving channel to make laminations.  Cheap jig, good results.

 

That's kind of where i was going.  The kit I recieved from rockler came with 3 blanks.  But they are not pre drilled that's going to be a learning curve and a half drilling those out.  Fortunately I have a decent small bench top drill press that I may have to set up.  As far as the cole jaws go at the moment I'm NOT too impressed with them.

1 hour ago, AndrewB said:

Fortunately I have a decent small bench top drill press that I may have to set up

You can drill on the lathe with your Jacobs chuck and your scroll chuck

 

 

 

Only comment that I can offer is that you have to ensure that your barrel sizes are the same.  Most of the kits are 7mm so if you can keep that in mind, you should be able to go.  Edit A:  Also, you can order the brass barrels from Rockler in packet of 10.  Can't remember the price, but I have a few extra as I sometimes make mistakes.  (If you can imagine that.)

 

Gunny, thanks for showing your pens.  I am going to "steal" some of your ideas.  Let me know the court date.  

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by FlGatorwood

1 minute ago, FlGatorwood said:

Let me know the court date. 

yea on the cole jaws how ever I'm not liking the way they sit with the doubled up chuck jaws.  I'm going to have to buy a second chuck just for the cole jaws.  Oh well LOL.

1 minute ago, AndrewB said:

they sit with the doubled up chuck jaws.

Got a picture of that?????

 

I don't unfortunately, how ever the one thing I don't like about it is I tested them out with it on.  It doesn't leave me much room to get into the piece with out much room and coming close to hitting the cole jaws themselves.  Not to mention not having enough room for the tool rest to get close to the piece with out hitting them.  So I'll be investing in a second chuck just for the cole jaws.

I am not familiar with your chuck, but I have a Nova G3 and I have to remove the original jaws to install another set.  The screws are not long enough to put on both set of jaws.  So, I am rather confused.  A picture would be nice. 

10 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

I am rather confused

Me too.

I must have gotten a different model because when I ordered the cole jaws they sent longer screws for the chuck that actually fit through both main chuck jaws and cole jaws.  Give me a moment I'll see bout taking a photo (Edited the photos are below)  As I've stated they fit together quite nicely with the longer bolts how ever it causes some working room issues as I said before.

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by AndrewB

No jaws are removed. The Cole Jaws are another set of jaws. They are only to allow you to finish the foot. nothing else. I gave mine away , did not like them at all

 

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by Gerald

Makes sense now, I set them up wrong.  I had assumed that the bolts that they sent me the longer ones were to lock both jaws together.  Probably where I messed up lol.  Live and learn.  Either way I'll still be picking up a second chuck just for those jaws.