This page contains watchmakers/jewelers lathes and some accessories that are very useful in pen repair. All are used and all have been used and tested for pen repair. They come with a 3-jawed self-centering chuck, a tailstock, a tool rest and newly installed belt. All are set up so the speed of the lathe can be varied.

First, a short description of these lathes. They are all what are known as 8mm WW lathes. The WW stands for Webster/Whitcomb the names of the two men that are credited with the development of the miniature watchmakers/jewelers lathe. The 8mm stands for the diameter of the mandrel that fits into and screws into the headstock. The 3-jaw chuck that is provided with the lathes sold here unscrews from the headstock and other accessories, for example a Jacobs chuck, can be screwed in. One of the most useful of the accessories that can be screwed into the headstock is a collet. Collets are made for a variety of applications, but are most often used for holding the object being worked on. Here is a typical 8mm collet.

Note that the collet has a (nearly) fixed hole size so that a set of collets is required. Collets are indeed convenient, but an entire set is expensive (check ebay for 8mm collets). A 3-jaw chuck obviates the need for a set of collets.

Also included with the purchase of any lathe will be a set of jigs made from old Duofold parts. These jigs can be used for polishing Duofold caps and barrels. While these are hardly precision devices, and must be regarded as disposable, they will be included to demonstrate a method of holding pen parts in the lathe and how it may be used in a variety of ways for pen repair and restoration.

This page includes for sale some accessories for the lathes. The most notable of these accessories is the cross slide that permits use of a lathe tool to do more precise machining than is possible using the tool rest and a hand tool (called a graver). Unfortunately, these cross slides are costly, comparable in price to the lathes themselves. That is why they are sold separately.

Here is a picture of a section chucked up in a lathe.
The portion of the section that is outside the barrel is being shortened in order to make the cap screw onto the barrel further than it did previously.
Note that a cross slide holding a lathe tool is being used here. It is not necessary to use this, but highly desirable.
This configuration can also be used to reduce the diameter of the part of the section that slides into the barrel in case you are afraid it will crack the barrel upon reinsertion.

Here are pictures of a Duofold barrel and a cap chucked up in a lathe for polishing.
The cross slide is not required for this operation and has been removed as has been the tool rest.
The jigs that hold these parts were made from a junk Duofold barrel and cap (both jade), blind cap and clip retaining cap.
The tailstock is used to keep the barrel and the cap from wobbling when turning.

Lathes and Accessories for Sale

Here is a typical lathe that I have for sale. Email to inquire about what is currently available.
The lathes I sell usually are complete with variable speed control, 3-jaw chuck and tool rest.
They are light weight (about 25 lbs) and self contained. Most are mounted on an aluminum stand for easy transport.
A section is shown chucked up in this one. This section has been turned using the graver shown in the foreground.
Also shown in the foreground are the chuck keys (center bottom) and a set of jigs made from junk Duofold parts.
These jigs are used for holding Duofolds in the lathe (right).

Click here to email for details.

Drawbar for 8 mm WW Watchmaker/Jeweler Lathe-Adjustable Length. $35
Fits most 8mm WW Lathes Including Levin. Brand new. 5-5/16” long.
The adjustable length is achieved using a collar that is tightened with an allen set screw.

Click here to email for details.

Jacobs chuck. $55
This chuck is the same as that on most electric drills except it has an arbor that permits it to be screw into an 8mm WW lathe as are collets.

Click here to email for details.

Plastic 3-Jaw 1.75" self-centering chuck. Three sets of jaws. $185
Using one set of jaws, the ones pictured in the chuck, the work is contacted by metal strips.
The other two sets of jaws are entirely plastic, one set making it possible to chuck up work up to 3" diameter.
The chuck has a WW arbor on the back (see pic) so it screws right into the headstock of an 8mm WW lathe.
This is not a toy. It is a precision insturment with numbered jaws corresponding to slots on the chuck.

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Variable transformer mounted inside a pipe holder. $115
This novelty item has been modified for the pen collector by the addition of a variable
voltage transformer that makes it possible to vary the speed of a jewelers lathe.
This pipe holder is ideal for holding pens or tools used for repair, for example dental instruments.

Click here to email for details.