Is pen making too easy?

you can vary the shape a bit - when I made pens, I always added a little bulge so it wouldn't slide around in your fingers - but making pens is not hard - once you have some lathe skills, if it takes you 1/2 hour to make a pen you are just stalling - nonetheless, they are practical and attractive so they make nice gifts.

A bowl or vase requires more skill and will reveal what you can or cannot do much better

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But people use (and lose) pens more...... :-)

I was drawn kicking and screaming into pens after years of bowl turning..

I was NOT a "spindle turner"...

They're now a steady source of income and I get several referrals a year for them..

The starter kits are just that... Simple kits, lots of rosewood blanks, etc...

I hated the constraints of the "slimline" pens, mostly because of the wasp waist thing.. This is caused by the size of the center band, as that and the ends determine the size of the finished pen.. I played with that a bit and found that if I either trashed the band or made my own, I could have a lot of different shapes and still use the cheap kits..

Try NOT using a center bushing on a few slimlines... Where the 2 blanks meet, you can burn a line with wire to accent the seam or a line above and below it to hide it.. Gives you instant shape choices..

If I can answer any questions, etc., feel free to email me..

mac

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Buddy

Some of the pens that looked the neatest to me were those that were made of intricate glue-ups. It add some dimension to the project to create some of these glue-ups.

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SNIP

Lots of incorrect assumptions there. If you turn with no imagination however, all would be correct.

I made a lot of Parker style pens a few years ago, as well as the slimlines. I had fun making both of them, although like anything else done in bulk, it got tiresome.

You should go look at a few penturners sites. Not the guys that take blanks and simply make a pen. Go the ones that make their own additional hardware, see the blanks made by hand from exotic woods, the resin bodied pens that look like the old 1930s pens. There are folks that turn cabochons to inlay in the pens, some even cast pieces to use from different materials. And some of the patterns that the guys are making now with aluminum threads and dark colored resins will blow you away. You should check out this site for just a very few ideas of shapes and materials:

Keep in mind that guy uses store bought blanks or cuts the wood himself.

I have made keepsake pens for all types of occasions from different woods that are very popular. I have made pens from "the old homestead house" wood when the house was demolished. I have made pens from a bat used when our local minor league won their championship; I made a pen from wood from an old timer's ranch when he was forced to sell it (that was a tearful presentation). The list goes on.

Try using different materials and making your own blanks. The game will change a lot if you try to make a really nice pen. Don't cut your blanks to a set of bushings: man up - use your calipers and fit the turned pieces to the actual dimension of the parts you received. In a pen judging competition, they will not accept the pen if you can feel the difference between the metal kit pieces and your wood.

Making pens is fun if you use your imagination. If you are just chewing out a pen here and there, not much to it. But if you are making a pen made from your kid's first big buck's horns, then you have something altogether different.

Robert

Randy

In addition to all the other replies, pen making can be an even quicker source of gratification. It can take me 2 or 3 days to turn a bowl. (Get home from work, turn the outside, sand and oil. Let dry at least 24 hours. Turn the inside, sand and finish. Let dry. Buff)

A pen can be turned in a bit over an hour. I use super glue and let it dry for about an hour. Pens are also easier to package and send off as gifts. The last 2 trips the wife and I made to China we took bowls and they took up about half of one suitcase (she has a big family). This time it's pens.

It sounds like what you enjoy about turning is the challenge. Is that right? Or am I reading too much between the lines? If that is so, then when you have mastered the tools and techniques of turning, where will you find an adequate challenge? Or do you enjoy the novelty aspect? Every project is something new and different? If so, turning offers endless possibilities for designing new and different things. You are right - pens have their limitations.

I have turned professionally for a number of years. My skews, gouges, and scrapers do not challenge me, they are just tools. When I make a pen, it's not for the challenge, it's for the pen. I don't get very creative with them, either. I just happen to like wood pens. One of my favorites I didn't even make myself. It appears to be some sort of plain mahogany, it cost $7, and it says "Estes Park" on it. I love that pen. I don't care if I made it myself or not. I don't make pens to sell, either, although I have given away a pile of them as gifts. I have never bought a pen blank. I make them from interesting little cutoffs from bowl or hollow form projects. I can't speak for other people, but that's why I make pens - for the finished product. Not for the challenge, the creativity, or the pride of craftsmanship. I just do it so I can have the pen. That's a good enough reason for me. Your mileage may vary. best wishes, -mike paulson, fort collins, co

I don't know I've never turned before.

Hopefully it will be hard to be a master! If I'm a master at doing something hard then I'll be happy.

I have a lathe that most of you guys would probably laugh at and throw away. I could afford a nice lathe but this one runs true and I want to see if I develop a fondness for turning before upgrading. I have seen that I can really do some neat things if I create some glue-ups for pens. I may try that out and I think that will add some enthusiasm for pen making.

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An interesting article on pen making in the latest AAW issue.. worth checking out..

Also, you might check out a book (magazine style) or 2 by Dick Sing.. He does some really creative stuff and has step-by-step instructions with pictures..

I never thought I'd do pens but I'm really glad that I got into them.. Not only do I make a fairly constant income from them, but because you really need to "hone" your skills with pens, it's made my bowl turning much better..

With pens, I find that you really need to focus on very sharp tools, light touch, attention to detail, fine finishing, etc.. All of which you carry with you when you're doing spindle or "face plate" work..

BTW, I don't think anyone laughs at a lathe that does what you want it to and introduces you to turning..

mac

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