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Pencil Lathe

 For when paint just doesn't make the cut.
  (+30, -1)(+30, -1)(+30, -1)
(+30, -1) 		  [vote for,
against]

Proportioned appropriately for pencil diameters, this small lathe is well suited for office environments. Pencil stock is secured using a gripping mechanism in place of the traditional piercing fasteners at each end. The eraser end is clamped in the same manor a drill grips a bit, while the other fastener slides over (around) the pencil to clamp anywhere in the middle, leaving the tip accessible. Comes complete with a set of miniature ferrules that snap into a larger handle for ease of use.

Experience the thrill of hand-lathing conic designs to a fine point, then canvass the entire periphery in breathtaking artifice. Lathe an intricate table leg pencil to advertise a furniture business, experiment with handgrip ergonomics, or fashion a totem pencil depicting your ancestral migration history. Whatever your creation may be, you are sure to display remarkable pencilmanship, without ever writing a word.

—Shz, Oct 26 2004

Pencil making kits for wood turners http://www.pennstat...Product_Code=PK-PCL
One can find the oddest things on the web. [bristolz, Oct 26 2004]

More on the craft of pencil turning. http://www.nickcook...s-pencil-pusher.htm
Turns out that there's this lathe-equipped, pencil-turning craft subculture out there. Who knew? [bristolz, Oct 26 2004]

Steam-powered pencil sharpener http://www.halfbake...0pencil_20sharpener
Slightly redundant with my Steam-Powered Pencil Sharpener, I think. [hippo, Oct 26 2004, last modified Oct 27 2004]

The Cumberland Pencil Museum http://www.pencils.co.uk/
Includes a PDF on pencil-sharpening techniques. [angel, Oct 27 2004]

baked by micromark http://www.ares-ser...pe=Product&ID=82710
this is their large model with 7" x 14" bed. [ato_de, Oct 27 2004]

steady rest http://www.ares-ser...pe=Product&ID=82503
A mid-piece support. [ato_de, Nov 01 2004]

follower rest http://www.ares-ser...pe=Product&ID=82504
a follower to prevent small stock from flexing. [ato_de, Nov 01 2004]

4-jaw independant chuck http://www.ares-ser...pe=Product&ID=82505
gripping without piercing. [ato_de, Nov 01 2004]

tailstock chuck http://www.ares-ser...pe=Product&ID=82507
a tool to grip the other end without piercing. [ato_de, Nov 01 2004]

big cue lathe http://www.uniqueinc.com/cue_maker
[zeno, Mar 12 2007]

Pencil Carving http://www.infofrea.../jad/enpitsu-e.html
Japanese Pencil Carving, unbelievable!! [cblunds, Mar 13 2007]

[link]






       What? Another order for a cylinder shape with a point on the end? We have the most boring customers imaginable.
—Worldgineer, Oct 26 2004
   

       Hmm. I think a miniature machine lathe pencil sharpener would be a cool knick-knack thing for the exec who has everything. Pop the pencil in between the little 3 jaw chuck and the opposing center, turn it on and watch as little curls of wood are machined off to a perfect point.
—bristolz, Oct 26 2004
   

       While away many happy hours in the office. The only disadvantage would be the halfbaking time lost.
—wagster, Oct 26 2004
   

       Interesting info [bz]. What they can’t do by the described methods is lathe to a point, because lathes aren’t built to leave one end exposed (until now).   

       [hippo], I remembered your idea. In that configuration the sharpener rotates, not the pencil. And even if the pencil rotated, the tip would have to remain in the sharpener in order to be supported in two places (for lathing).
—Shz, Oct 26 2004
   

       Machine lathes are, though, [Shz], as are wood lathes set up for bowl turning. Whether the stock needs two ended support or not depends on the strength and stiffness of the piece of stock.
—bristolz, Oct 26 2004
   

       I think this is different enough because this takes into account that one may want to lathe shapes into their pencils. +
—sartep, Oct 27 2004
   

       I disagree with the mfd as well. The hipop idea is about sharpening only (and doesn't use a lathe approach - that is to say, turning tools - as this one does).
—waugsqueke, Oct 27 2004
   

       it wouldn't be HB without a Pencil Idea.
—neilp, Oct 27 2004
   

       Mom, Sheazy's bein lathey again! (+)   

       Go out and make one. I thiunk this idea would sell really well. Very cool!
—energy guy, Oct 27 2004
   

       2B or not 2B? Worried about an exec toy arms race - not content with your basic pencil lathe, senior vice-p purchases the 3-axis Pencil Creation Centre (I'm trademarking that as we speak) which connects to his PC and comes with 3 million preprogrammed designs, including 500 ancestral migration totem pencil designs (all of which include mickey mouse somewhere, dunno why)
—moomintroll, Oct 27 2004
   

       Compelled to bun by woodcarving needs. +
—k_sra, Oct 27 2004
   

       Superb, Shz. Particularly like the Totem Pole Pencil slant.
—lostdog, Oct 27 2004
   

       Thanks for the link [ato_de]. That's a lathe alright. I don't recommend trying to make a point with it tho.
—Shz, Oct 28 2004
   

       Furthermore, it is a lathe "Proportioned appropriately for pencil diameters" which has a various assortment of similarly sized holding devices and wood-working accessories. It would be no more difficult to create a point on this existing "Proportioned appropriately for pencil diameters" lathe than it would be on your proposed "Proportioned appropriately for pencil diameters" lathe. In fact, it would be much easier, as this one already exists.
—ato_de, Oct 28 2004
   

       Mr OH&S has gone out to get lunch. Put a 2H pencil in the chuck of the large metal lathe and sharpened it. Not as good as the standard blade sharpener but using heavy machinery when it isn't needed is cool. I can also knurl the grip of the pencil!
—Captain_Ignorant, Oct 29 2004
   

       //similarly sized holding devices// Perhaps, but not at all the same mechanism. I agree that it wouldn’t be much of an idea if it was just a small lathe, but that’s not the case.   

       //It would be no more difficult to create a point on this existing...// Oh, but it would. Gripping the pencil in two places has an obvious advantage (besides not piercing the eraser) over securing only one end and spinning it up. Stability, especially when working on the far end (sharpening).
—Shz, Oct 29 2004
   

       Please explain to me how this isn't "just a small lathe."   

       [marked-for-deletion] widely known to exist.
—ato_de, Nov 01 2004
   

       I don’t know what else to say [ato_de]. Your links are irrelevant. I’m sorry I was unable to help you understand. Cheers.
—Shz, Nov 02 2004
   

       This is defenitely different from just a small lathe. However, the lathe used to make and repair billiard cues do exactly what is described here. This is a small billiard cue lathe+. See link
—zeno, Mar 12 2007
   

       I loved this idea from the moment I saw the title. [+]
—MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 12 2007
   

       Just a small point: the word is "turning", not "lathing".   

       Perhaps this idea only works on HB pencils?
—Ling, Mar 13 2007
   

       hehe
—zeno, Mar 13 2007
   

       For even more elaborate pencil schemes, see link.
—cblunds, Mar 13 2007
   

       The lathe Ato_de posted would do a perfect job of sharpening a pencil. I will go home and do it on my lathe tonight. Most lathes have a hollow shaft that the chuck attaches to. The pencil is passed through the chuck and only the portion to be sharpened protrudes from the head. A pool cue lathe is just a specialize lathe with a much larger than normal hole in the shaft.   

       From your comment Shz it sounds like you have never really worked with a lathe.
—jhomrighaus, Mar 13 2007
   

       You are right ofcourse. I hadn't thought of that because my chuck won't do it.
—zeno, Mar 14 2007
   

       + I miss [Shz]...
—xandram, Dec 16 2009
   

       Sounds like you need a Clisby my friend, or a Taig. Get a set of collets and bob's your uncle
—afinehowdoyoudo, Dec 16 2009
   
      
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