don't even qualify as a beginner

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Haynie

Member
Joined
May 20, 2011
Messages
3,516
Location
Page Arizona
Hello. Never turned a pen. never turned anything for that matter. Have a pretty nice metal Mill/drill/lathe thingy at our boat shop we used to use to modify boat parts. Now that we closed the shop I want to put it to a more creative use. I realize I will need a wood lathe and tools but no idea where to start.

I am a teacher/boat storage manager. Did service work until we realized that it was killing me. It was my father-in-law's dream not mine. I am a photographer by hobby and prefer film over pixels. I am also a pen and pencil junkie which is why I am here. Thought it would be fun to learn.

Is there a beginner part of this site? I tried to look but did not see anything. I don't want to be asking tired old newbie questions that have been asked and answered a million times.
 
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Mark:
Welcome aboard. If we had to "qualify" to be a beginner, most of us would never have started.

I would check out YouTube with a search for pen making. There are several nice "beginning" videos there.

Then ask your questions here AND exploit the library here. There are loads of good basic information.
 
welcome !!!i still consider myself new as well, this is a great site to learn from
 
Welcome, but be forewarned: turning wood pens and assembling with kit parts is just a gateway drug. Before you know it, you'll be hooked on the harder stuff like casting, segmenting, and who knows what else...

-Barry
 
Welcome from Wichita falls, TX. There are lots of people on here always willing to share information anyone. Dont hesitate to ask, we all had to start somehow, so none of us are any different than you, just further along than others.
 
Thanks folks

Been looking at you tube. Cool stuff. Looks like it takes a lot of practice. I can do that.

As for drugs, you should see my camera collection. On a photo forum it is called GAS. Gear Acquisition Syndrome and I had it bad. Had to stop when the wife gave me that LOOK.
 
Welcome

Welcome Mark- I was in your place about 7-8 months ago. I got a good start from a free DVD that came from www.pennstateind.com. Helped me learn the basics and then I found this site and learned lots and practiced. It's a fun hobby. If I can answer anything for you as another newbe, please feel free to PM me.

Richard
 
Welcome Mark -- I see you are in Northern Arizona and related to boats and that leaves a narrow range of communities == Page perhaps

I snowbird in Tucson and drove both routes between Utah and Flagstaff this year. There did not seem to be a lot of water between the Colorado River and the Mexican border.

Ask questions -- the only foolish one is the ones you do not aski. We all start as beginners and your metal working tools will come in quite handy as you move from the start.



There are a bunch of turners in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff --
 
Welcome Mark, from far west Kentucky, to the addiction, sometimes referred to as the vortex. You mention that you have read some of the site, be sure to give the library a good bit of time. The link is at the top of the page. You will find an article called Library Index. This covers tutorials on about anything pen making you can think of. You will also notice that there are articles listed by year. Much good info there as well. When these fail to answer your questions, by all means post it here. I have never seen one go unanswered very long. You might also want to give this thread a good look. It has some very good info for the beginning pen turner; http://content.penturners.org/articles/2009/Getting_started_in_penturning.pdf. Grab some wood, make some shavings and have fun all the while being safe.
Charles
 
Welcome! Best way to get started is to get started! Worst you can do is screw up a blank and/or kit, but they're pretty cheap. (Okay, worst you can do is injure yourself. Be careful and use safety equipment!)

That said, I like the idea of a beginner area on the web site or in the library. It can be tricky for a beginner to separate the basics from all the more advanced info that's available.
 
Welcome Mark from Alabama. One thing not mentioned so far.... check out the Local Chapters Forum. I noticed a chapter forum for Phoenix/Scottsdale listed. Didn't look like it was too active but some times all it takes is a wake up call. The Tennessee/North Alabama chapter has had 3 or 4 montly meetings since I started gettin interested in penturning and I learned a huge amount at each one of the metings. Vids and tutes are great but they can't compare with a knowledgable individual showing you something and then looking over your shoulder and givig you correction as you try to do it.

All it takes to have a meeting is someone with a shop big enough to host a couple of lathes, a couple of people each willing to bring their lathe along and set it up, and a couple more people willing to get together for an afternoon and turn wood while talking wood turning. The last component is someoone willing to put it all together.

Most of those components are pretty easy to find in this membership (especially people willing to turn and/or talk turning).
 
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welcome mark, And i will add to start with the bare minimum.
You need wood or some other material to turn. I highly suggest wood for a first time out. look aroudn or even ask for some free scraps to practice on. Almost anyone that has been making pens even for a short while has some pieces they simply will never use.

as for a lathe. how much room you have has some say in that. but if you can get a 12X48 wood lathe. it lets you venture into other things later if they draw your interest. if not the extra room always makes a nice bench top.

tools, of course you need the basic turning tools. I suggest the turning tool set form harbor freight to start. it is not fancy and high priced but it works just fine until you can pick and choose the tools most suited to yourself.

you can get the bushings, mandrel, and barrel trimmer when you order those first pen kits. yeah that first kit is expensive.

other than that you want some super glue and maybe some epoxy. I suggest you see Monty here on the forums about those.

you can cut and drill by hand in order to keep start up costs down but you will eventually probably want at lest a small band saw and either a drill press or the tooling to drill on the lathe.

finally but probably the most important is a way to sharpen those new turning tools. this can be either very expensive but worth the cost to very low cost sharpening stones. but you need sharp tools.

You are also going to want a set of good quality sandpaper in grits from about 220 to 600 at the very least.

that should get you through your first few pens. and from there you will be able to decide what out of the endless list of other "Things" you can choose from.

as for cost. I know one person that got their first pen made for $600. I started on $2000. I would not have wanted to go the $600 route but it can be done. you will have to get creative, be patient and ost of all look for deals in this group. but it can be done that way.

Best of luck and I look forward to seeing some of your work.
 
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