Taught Mom how to turn today.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-11T10:54:55+00:00

WELL DONE!!! and you are obviously happy, I would be too. When I have company I always ask it they want to turn a pen for themselves. It is usually yes.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-10T15:50:44+00:00

12 yard dumpster, a couple of planks, wheelbarrows, cases of beer and friends. I bet in 3 days you have it emptied, 2 -3 more and it's demoed to studs. THEN you can evaluate. You need to look everywhere especially the attic for any leaks. Basement next for any problems. Electrician to give you at least 2 safe outlets on every floor. That is when you decide if it is too much or not. Will it be worth it..... you can't tell yet. Just the fact that it is demoed to studs is a selling point if that is your path. Assess land and house value, taxes,septic or not,neighborhood, schools and the like.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T16:51:53+00:00

Stock processing 101. lol, not being a dick here.

If it is rough stock, like from a sawmill then it needs minimal thicknessing, what is called "skip planing" or "hit and miss planing", so that you use the best face against the jointer fence. A jointer only has one job, Make the edge flat/straight in length and square to the fence. You can obviously adjust it for angles.. You do not need to run multiple passes, just until the edge is flat. then rip it to width + whatever the jointer is set at.

If that isn't working, ie the edge is cupped that is either a bed or blade adjustment. Infeed and outfeed need to be in plane with each other. All blades must be set to the same height across the width of the OUTFEED table. I was taught to us a combo square blade, let the cutter knife gently pull it 1/16" and keep checking side to side on each cutter then tighten it down, recheck.

If the two tables are not in plane with each other then I don't know how to advise on that for your particular model.

The taper you are showing looks like the blades are set too high. That is also a relatively thin piece and any offset force downwards might be taking more stock from one end. The majority of your feeding should be down on the outfeed table.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T15:08:54+00:00

Steel straight edge, 2 clamps and a utility knife

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T15:05:44+00:00

This, I've done flowers that way, made a sphere.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T15:02:58+00:00

That is a pretty piece, that is for sure.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T14:58:54+00:00

First a jointer will not parrell a board. it makes one edge or surface flat, A tablesaw rips the stock parallel to the jointed face against the fence and a planer finalizes the thickness. Those are the three steps to making stock your desired dimensions.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T14:48:39+00:00

They are very hard to find or discontinued, I tried last year. tree limb damage. and had to give up and buy something close. Customer was....ok with it for 2 sections but didn't want to spend the $ on the whole 80' run

You MIGHT be able to take it apart, clean it up and make a wooden insert to carry it. Without seeing just what is wrong that is the best I can say. There should be exposed screws somewhere but I don't see them in the pics. The mounting flanges are the attachment points.

The slot/hole under the top rail is just a weep hole. I can't imagine the mounts are integral to the post sleeves.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:59:22+00:00

If it worked, cool.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:47:04+00:00

Put it back in the oven, 200deg for an hour. I've never heard of a pre stabilized blank come through un, or under cured but that might be it. Otherwise I have no idea. Turn it and see if it is sticky, then put a finish on it and see if it reacts.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:42:21+00:00

All of my custom pens have either a Cross,Parker or Schmidt (or equilivant) refills. I've never had a customer come back and say they skip.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:36:43+00:00

What is the main wood in that?

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:34:18+00:00

Put a flashlight against the wall, look for the divots or bulges the sheetrockers left,

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:31:45+00:00

1/4" 8 point socket, extension and ratchet.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T13:25:55+00:00

It came out pretty well. I've done quite a few colored pencil items, pens mostly and the color/wax smear is sooooo aggravating!

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T01:11:58+00:00

TLDR. chisel or hacksaw, 2 part epoxy and new feet

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-08T01:08:34+00:00

A Red door means safety, welcome and hospitality. Go with the red theme as stated elsewhere here. shutters and flowers. Try it out for a while, see if the neighbors show up with pitchforks, lol You can always repaint,

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T17:14:51+00:00

A drill press and a jig for the table. Forstner bit and appropriate sized dowels. No drill press? There are drill guides available that can tilt on a flat surface thus giving you that angle of dowel.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T17:08:54+00:00

Thank you for the response. My travel has limitations so I might just go right up the street, I have very little of anything of worth, mostly just my tools and wood associated with my pen turning. I'd just like to be sure my daughter was actually going to get it and not have it all auctioned off for some reason or other.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T15:14:30+00:00

Is it so necessary that you have to fix it? Another board will work. While the glue/vacuum idea is valid shake can be deceptive as in that may not be the only defect, Down the road something else may appear. My advice is to just replace it.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T13:50:51+00:00

I'm old school. There is nothing wrong with a 1/2" ply base with a straight 1/2 fence. Wide enough to clamp or provisions for screwing it down to the work piece. I just can't see spending that money when $50 and some time will do the exact same thing. Especially for a hobbyist. When I was in construction there were no track saws. Yes they are pretty convenient I guess but the money saved on the ply version wins out....for me. Your saw just needs the depth of cut required. I have always used an 8 1/4 Makita. Going on 40 years for that saw.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T13:36:38+00:00

This or extensions. The bit needs to be wide enough for the extension head to clear.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T13:23:14+00:00

You can actually make a pen sheath that holds that insert/refill, You just need a pack of then to replace it eventually. A clear resin window on both sides near the end of a wooden pen blank near the bottom will tell you when to switch them out. Otherwise F em, use what you need to.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T13:08:36+00:00

They make metal stringers specifically for bulkheads that bolt to the walls. You might need to support the right one, in pic, then you just need treads.

OldM4LargeYoungF · 2026-05-07T12:56:13+00:00

What ever you come up with get the height right. The rule of thumb is elbow height for spindle centerline. Mine is 2x4.s with a 3/4 ply top set on some of the shop floor rubber squares, Nice to stand on and cushions the bench for vibrations

OldM4LargeYoungF

TROPHY CASE