Ok......sorry I forgot to add my last name with my post.. I am so used to logging in to other websites with my DAVE D login.......habitual problem.....Anyway......simple question....can I use some of these pen blanks measuring 3/4" x 3/4" x 5" for turning reel seats? There are some very nice colorful blanks of different materials that would look great.

Dave

You can.
But you won't have a lot of extra wood, diameter wise, to work with.
Which means youll have to make your initial bore pretty true.

Josh Markvan
www.markvanheirloom.com

Josh is right. Those pen blanks are made for cigar pens which are about 5/8" diameter. You should really start with about 1/4" larger than your finished diameter will be.

Try Andy Dear at Lamar Manufacturing. I think he still has some stabilized wood for reel seat inserts. He stuff is all first class. I bought a bunch when he said he wasn't going to sell it anymore. I almost hate to use it.

Here's some additional information. Batson lists the OD of their inserts as .665. If you start with a .75 square, you would have at most .0425" on either side to work with, so the hole you drill must be absolutely dead center. I've worked with a fair number of these pen blanks and they are often not square. REC offers a pretty good selection of turning stock that's 7/8" square which gives you .105" on either side to work with. You'll be much better off with that than with the pen blanks.

There are some nice blanks on @#$%&. Just make sure the "jumbo" blanks are at least 7/8" and that they are dry. Watch the shipping charges too!

1 1/2" spindle blanks are great to make inserts with matching grips/ accents, butt plugs/ fighting butts, winding checks, etc. Many of these are exotic woods 18" long for $6-10 each. Do a google search for turning stock.

Tony

You can use the round,pre-bored to 10mm wood blanks from Penn State as a core, and cast them using rod finish or casting resin to get a diameter large enough to turn down to the final diameter that you want. Casting resin has to be buffed , rod finish just needs a coat of finish. Jesse