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oldnewbie · 11-07-2007, 01:51 PM

Anyone in the SE Mich area interested in doing something for a great cause, and have fun, as well as FREE, Come on out to the Woodcraft Store at 17 Mile Rd and Van Dyke for a pen turning session; The pens will be sent to our troops to thank them for their loyal and patriotic service. Mike McGrath and his lovely wife Sue will be there starting at 3PM. Even if you've never turned anything in your life, I'm sure it will be a great learning and social event. So COME ON DOWN!!!!

BTW: Mike says he misses everyone and is looking forward to seeing you there. He should be back on line soon.

I forgot to tell you that's this Saturday, 11/10/07.
See you There?

Neal

**challagan** · 11-07-2007, 07:29 PM

Say hey to Mike, and have fun, pen turning is a lot of fun!

corey

**Mike** · 11-11-2007, 01:08 AM

By golly you are right Corey. Sue and I had a great time this afternoon making pens for our servicemen. Sue made two and was very proud, this was her first woodworking project. I turned 3, my first experience making pens and I enjoyed it as well. I have an old Wholesale Tool wood lathe that I aquired in a trade some time ago. It came with an inexpensive set of chisels. I am going to replace the old V belt with a link belt so it operates smoother. One of my friends is making me an adaptor sleeve for the spindle so it will accept #2 Morse taper shanks. Once he has it finished I will invest in the tools for making pens.

**challagan** · 11-11-2007, 02:10 PM

Excellent Mike. It's a great way to use up some of those scraps from your projects as well. I did some pens this weekend myself. Also there is no need to spend good money on expensive turning tools. I have some harbor freight and most of mine are from Penn State industries. Very good tools for the money. I would recommend though that you use High Speed Steel turning tools as the carbon steel turning tools get cooked very easily when sharpening and dull quickly when turning. Many wives enjoy and get involved in turning through pen turning.

Corey

**Mike** · 11-17-2007, 11:35 AM

Here are a couple of photo's from the pen turning event. Special thanks to Mathiew, Jim and Beth for making this happen. We used cherry blanks and the pens turned out beautiful. I hope the troops enjoy them. The first photo is Beth watching me apply a burnished finish. The second is Beth and my wife Sue. The pen is Sue's second effort and I am impressed.

**challagan** · 11-17-2007, 12:20 PM

Excellent Mike. Cherry is one wood that can be finished really easy with no finish. You can burnish it really nicely with just the chips from turning.

Corey

Dr.Zook · 11-17-2007, 03:38 PM

Nice work Mike, I mean Sue. You did a great job on your pen. God bless you both for the pens for the troops.

**Bob** · 11-17-2007, 06:17 PM

Mike,

Welcome to the world of turning. It is an adventure like no other in woodworking. Some call it a vortex with no bottom and that very well could sum it up for sure.

Looks like some great pens were turned and much fun was had for a very good cause.

I can hardly wait to see your first M&M

**Mike** · 11-17-2007, 07:59 PM

Ok Bob! I figured out how to do it. I would have to drill holes through the blanks and glue in dye impregnated dowels or perhaps for better results colored plastic dowels. The wood would have to be purple heart, and once turned it would need to be exposed to strong sunlight to give it that perfect milk chocolate color. Marking the "M"'s would be the tough part. Then it would have to be clear coated.

11-07-2007, 01:51 PM	#1
oldnewbie Registered User Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Taylor, MI Posts: 151 View oldnewbie's Gallery	Report This Post! Pens for the Troops Anyone in the SE Mich area interested in doing something for a great cause, and have fun, as well as FREE, Come on out to the Woodcraft Store at 17 Mile Rd and Van Dyke for a pen turning session; The pens will be sent to our troops to thank them for their loyal and patriotic service. Mike McGrath and his lovely wife Sue will be there starting at 3PM. Even if you've never turned anything in your life, I'm sure it will be a great learning and social event. So COME ON DOWN!!!! BTW: Mike says he misses everyone and is looking forward to seeing you there. He should be back on line soon. I forgot to tell you that's this Saturday, 11/10/07. See you There? Neal Last edited by oldnewbie; 11-07-2007 at 02:11 PM.
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11-07-2007, 07:29 PM	#2
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,002 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Say hey to Mike, and have fun, pen turning is a lot of fun! corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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11-11-2007, 01:08 AM	#3
Mike Senior Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan USA Posts: 3,380 View Mike's Gallery	Report This Post! By golly you are right Corey. Sue and I had a great time this afternoon making pens for our servicemen. Sue made two and was very proud, this was her first woodworking project. I turned 3, my first experience making pens and I enjoyed it as well. I have an old Wholesale Tool wood lathe that I aquired in a trade some time ago. It came with an inexpensive set of chisels. I am going to replace the old V belt with a link belt so it operates smoother. One of my friends is making me an adaptor sleeve for the spindle so it will accept #2 Morse taper shanks. Once he has it finished I will invest in the tools for making pens. __________________ Mike Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you. Last edited by Mike; 11-11-2007 at 11:04 AM.
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11-11-2007, 02:10 PM	#4
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,002 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Excellent Mike. It's a great way to use up some of those scraps from your projects as well. I did some pens this weekend myself. Also there is no need to spend good money on expensive turning tools. I have some harbor freight and most of mine are from Penn State industries. Very good tools for the money. I would recommend though that you use High Speed Steel turning tools as the carbon steel turning tools get cooked very easily when sharpening and dull quickly when turning. Many wives enjoy and get involved in turning through pen turning. Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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11-17-2007, 11:35 AM	#5
Mike Senior Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan USA Posts: 3,380 View Mike's Gallery	Report This Post! Here are a couple of photo's from the pen turning event. Special thanks to Mathiew, Jim and Beth for making this happen. We used cherry blanks and the pens turned out beautiful. I hope the troops enjoy them. The first photo is Beth watching me apply a burnished finish. The second is Beth and my wife Sue. The pen is Sue's second effort and I am impressed. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mike Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you.
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11-17-2007, 12:20 PM	#6
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,002 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Excellent Mike. Cherry is one wood that can be finished really easy with no finish. You can burnish it really nicely with just the chips from turning. Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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11-17-2007, 03:38 PM	#7
Dr.Zook Official Greeter Supreme Forum King Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Lebanon, Ohio "USA" First Name: Dave or "Doc" Posts: 4,711 View Dr.Zook's Gallery	Report This Post! Nice work Mike, I mean Sue. You did a great job on your pen. God bless you both for the pens for the troops. __________________ Dave the "Doctor" In woodworking there is no scrap, only firewood. Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you and make for a friendlier forum.
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11-17-2007, 06:17 PM	#8
Bob Forum Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 2,542 View Bob's Gallery	Report This Post! Mike, Welcome to the world of turning. It is an adventure like no other in woodworking. Some call it a vortex with no bottom and that very well could sum it up for sure. Looks like some great pens were turned and much fun was had for a very good cause. I can hardly wait to see your first M&M __________________ Cheers, Bob
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11-17-2007, 07:59 PM	#9
Mike Senior Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, Michigan USA Posts: 3,380 View Mike's Gallery	Report This Post! Ok Bob! I figured out how to do it. I would have to drill holes through the blanks and glue in dye impregnated dowels or perhaps for better results colored plastic dowels. The wood would have to be purple heart, and once turned it would need to be exposed to strong sunlight to give it that perfect milk chocolate color. Marking the "M"'s would be the tough part. Then it would have to be clear coated. __________________ Mike Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you.
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