WHAT IT TAKES
Time: 1 hour
Skill level: Intermediate
On a lathe, turn a 3-in.-square x 6-in.-long hardwood blank into a cylinder that’s 4-1/2 in. long with a narrowed waist, curved top and flat bottom. Sand smooth. With a compass, draw a circle on the top and mark six hole locations on the circle. Why six? When you leave the compass at the same radius and “step” it around the circle, it marks off six equally spaced points. After marking, use a 3/8-in. brad point bit to drill the six holes at 10 degrees and 2 in. deep. If your drill press has no angle adjustment, glue three shims together and clamp them to the table to make a 10-degree angled ramp. Finish the pen holder with Danish oil, and load with pens.
