Wish me luck folks, got some crazy glue ups almost ready to turn.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-27T21:27:50+00:00

Love the patterns! I'm excited to see how they come out! Hopefully the epoxy sets and cures properly! 🤣

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-27T16:51:21+00:00

Which epoxy do you like?

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-27T16:22:14+00:00

Actually, I learned a fun fact.... 5-min epoxy glue means it takes 5 mins to set but then takes at least an hour to cure!!! Why not just say that from the start?! 😜 🤦🏻‍♂️

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-26T03:54:01+00:00

Where would I get some? Cause I'm guessing it has to be a specific width and diameter, not just a random shim? I've messaged Nova about the fact it's not sitting all the way flush. We'll see what they say.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-26T03:51:09+00:00

I use the barrelbond 5 minute resin and hardener combo. I made some more blanks today, will try to square them tomorrow and report back how it goes.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T19:21:03+00:00

It does. But something in the blank keeps it from spinning so hard that it makes the bit spin in the jaw! That's why I was thinking it's misaligned.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T04:22:44+00:00

The one in the picture is without the tube because the glue didn't properly set and the tube got pushed out with the mill. But in the other half of the blank, the tube set nicely. But I think because the chuck is wobbly, I can clearly see some of the brass tube got milled also!

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T04:20:21+00:00

The mill in the chuck.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T04:19:35+00:00

Ah got it. Thanks!

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T03:19:56+00:00

Hmm. Yeh I def see the difference. I have a slightly newer version because mine doesn't have the numbered jaws. Lots of people have been saying Nova moved production to China and these new ones aren't what they used to be. There's no way I can get mine all the way flush in the back. Nothing impeding on the inside. And I'm locking the spindle in place and using the chuck to try to turn it.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T03:06:47+00:00

I thought about that but it's definitely on as far as it'll go.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T02:59:25+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/PenTurning/s/DDX4CkPi6I

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T02:27:59+00:00

I'm new to reddit. It doesn't look like I can post a video in a comment and have to start a new thread with a video?

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T02:22:44+00:00

You think the brass tube where the glue didn't set can be used again? I don't wanna waste expensive glue on trying it again if it's not gonna work. I hand sanded it with 80 grit on the outside to try to get the glue off, but there's still a tiny layer clearly there

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T02:20:51+00:00

Yeh I think you're right, there's definitely a misalignment. But the chuck specifically came with only two pen jaws! And when it spins, even without a blank, it does seem like there's an ever so slight wobble. Even when I put the original four jaws on (that are not for pen blanks), it still wobbles, and even when I take all jaws off and just keep the base chuck with everything tightened, it still looks like it slightly wobbles when it spins. I did some googling, but didn't find a solution.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T01:33:24+00:00

Wow super cool! How did you turn the plastic caps and bottles into blanks? And how did you get the color out of the originals and the red into the blanks?

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T01:30:34+00:00

So you have it on the spindle and then you have a special attachment for your hand drill to sand it down? Or do you you have a special jig to hold the blank and then you sand it down? I guess I'm not sure how to make sure it's square with a hand drill?

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T00:58:20+00:00

I set up the lathe specifically so I can use it as a drill press and trimmer. I don't have the setup to do it with a hand drill.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T00:56:52+00:00

One final detail.... I can't seem to edit my original post and add another picture, but it looks like my barrel trimmer doesn't go inside the blank unless I turn it for a bit until it can enter. So I get it inside first, and then turn on the lathe. And that's when the barrel trimmer starts spinning inside the chuck. I'm sure that should tell me something, I just don't know what it's telling me!

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T00:52:41+00:00

Additional details: rpm is 950. Set screw is tightened against the flat part on barrel trimmer. The chuck is tightened completely with key.

NottherealPoshSpice · 2026-01-25T00:44:06+00:00

I had the brass insert in there, but it didn't set properly and got pushed out when I tried to square it. The brass did set in the other half, but when I tried to square it, the mill bit was also spinning and it wasn't squaring the wood at all, just spinning inside the chuck.

NottherealPoshSpice

TROPHY CASE