FIRST PENS

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Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
Messages
298
Location
BROOKFIELD, MISSOURI
Well, it started. Got my lathe etc at retirement party thrown by the company I worked for Friday evening. Got everything set up Saturday and turned first pen Sunday morning. Slim-line but it turned out great WHEW!!!! Took it over to parents house to show them and my 85 year old father said I love that and stuck it in his overalls. So much for keeping first pen, but he took it out of his pocket and said now I want a box to keep it in and show it off. Odered same this evening along with some Brazilan Cherry Wood blanks and some others for orders taken this evening at the local bowling alley. Have turned nothing but slim-lines and Annelli's so far, but they are going like hot cakes. No one is this area has even seen a hardwood pen of any kind and people are going nuts. Have only turned about 20 pens, and have two sitting on desk right now, and that is all that is left, but as warned I am hooked, sinker included.
Waiting for arrival of centering vise, should arrive tomorrow to tackle some other pen kits that I have on hand. Buying digital camera this week, so should be able to take pictures soon. Old timer that still uses a 35MM camera, but will switch to digital, because of internet etc. I want to thank everyone for posting all of their tips, ideas and things to watch out for as they were all of great help in turning my first pen. Was scared to death to do it, but everything went well, just a little slow of the first few, and yes the slim-lines have to be one the hardest thing to turn due to the thin wood left over the tubes.
 
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Congratulations on the pens! You are now HOOKED! If you can get it away from your dad long enough to photograph it, do it. Post picts of the others too!
 
Congratulations JD ! You are well on your way . Looking forward to seeing your work . Sounds like you already have a market in place . Best of luck !
 
John, I'm jealous and green with envy. Jealous that your in "stage 1" of the addiction and green with envy that you now have the time to really enjoy all the things you're getting ready to learn. In "stage 1", it seems like you're learning new things even faster than you're depleting your discretionary funds for new kits, new blanks, new tools and accesories- and on this site you're going to be amazed at the wealth of information and experience you can tap into. Buckle up, you're in for a great ride!!
 
Yeah, you're screwed now.

It starts out with slimlines. $3 here $3 there, no biggie.
Cherry blanks, $1 a pop. Hey, that's not going to hurt anything.
One mandrel, one 7mm drill bit, hey, all the cool turners are doing it.

Then, the slimline isn't doing it for you anymore.
"Oh, a 'cigar'... just a few more bucks, ok, I'll try it."
"Ah, I need a new bit huh?"
"And more bushings... What? What goes where?"
Then the spalted blanks. The burl blanks.

Next thing you know, you're doing $35 pen kits, Platinum replaces 24K gold, Amboyna burl replaces cherry, you're cutting your grocery budget, looking for fallen trees while driving down the road, offering to cast your friend's dead cat's ashes into a pen.... you wind up the Amy Winehouse of the turning world.

You're screwed.
 
Skye,
Too late all ready there. Have all ready bought and recieved cigar kits, bushing out the rear, up graded slim line kits, Annelli, all kinds of stuff from Arizona, CSUSA, Wood and Whimzies, Steel and more to come from PSI. I am done for, and love it. Had to order Special balnks last night for orders taken on my second tday of turning. Ordered some extra that looked like they would be nice as well. One thing, how do you guys keep track of what blank is what, I know write on the blank. I ordered a bunch over the internet and from a turner in St Louis but when they came in nothing was marked. Have no idea as to what is what. Some looks just great and others just plain no grain or anything. Will use those on slim-line kits I guess.
 
John, just so you know, the unmarked blanks you received are not "unidentified", they're "FIG" wood ("Found In Garage"). And don't be too hasty to sell slimlines short, either--they offer an excellent platform for experimentation and customization, possibly moreso than any other pen style. Have fun with it!
 
LostintheWoods said:
John, just so you know, the unmarked blanks you received are not "unidentified", they're "FIG" wood ("Found In Garage"). And don't be too hasty to sell slimlines short, either--they offer an excellent platform for experimentation and customization, possibly moreso than any other pen style. Have fun with it!
Click to expand...
I've been discovering that a lot of my customers perfer slimlines to the others I make/have avaliable for sale.

I've learned that there are only 2 real limits when it comes to penturning:

Your imagination and your pocketbook....
 
John: Congrats on your new found addiction. You will soon find yourself placing orders for kits and balnks more often than you ever thought you would. Try making some out of deer antler and see how fast they leave your shop. I live close to Mark Twain Lake and my wife and I get over in your area on our way to Jamesport once a year or so and might drop you a line ahead of the trip and drop by if you don't mind.
My main complaint about reading your above post is I am jealous. I thought most people got a gold watch at their retirement party, you got way luckier if you got a lathe. Keep on turnin' and keep your chisels sharp. Fred.
 
JOhn,

Go to Russ Fairfield's site - penturner Russ, I think.

You'll gain a whole new respect for the lowly slimline!!!!
 
JOHN DOWELL said:
Had to order Special balnks last night for orders taken on my second tday of turning. Ordered some extra that looked like they would be nice as well. One thing, how do you guys keep track of what blank is what, I know write on the blank. I ordered a bunch over the internet and from a turner in St Louis but when they came in nothing was marked. Have no idea as to what is what.
Click to expand...

First, glad you took the plunge. Looking forward to pictures.
Second, yes.. WRITE IT ON THE BLANK!
You can remember at first, sure .. it's all new! But one or two blanks swaps
and you're lost. DAMHIKT

And as part of our un-announced first time turner's IAP offer, drop me
an email and I can help you get going with some nice blanks.
(just don't ask me what they are.. :tongue: )
 
Skye said:
It starts out with slimlines. $3 here $3 there, no biggie...

Next thing you know, you're doing $35 pen kits, Platinum replaces 24K gold, Amboyna burl replaces cherry, you're cutting your grocery budget, looking for fallen trees while driving down the road, offering to cast your friend's dead cat's ashes into a pen.... you wind up the Amy Winehouse of the turning world.
Click to expand...

STAY OUT OF MY DIARY!!!!
 
*ahem*

"Dear Diary; Today was a pretty bad day. I found $5 in my pants pocket. Next thing I know I'm in the car driving by Woodcraft. It's like my body was on autopilot. I walked in, bought a BEB blank on sale. What am I doing? I don't even have any friggin kits! I'm sick..... so sick.

PS. That Skye is one sexay mofo!"
 
Skye said:
*ahem*

"Dear Diary; Today was a pretty bad day. I found $5 in my pants pocket. Next thing I know I'm in the car driving by Woodcraft. It's like my body was on autopilot. I walked in, bought a BEB blank on sale. What am I doing? I don't even have any friggin kits! I'm sick..... so sick.

PS. That Skye is one sexay mofo!"
Click to expand...

LOL .. I'm sure I didn't say 'friggin' ..
 
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