Getting organized for pen turning!

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Woodchipper

Woodchipper

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Cleveland, TN
In the past, I got the idea of putting kits in the plastic lunch meat containers. I had 16 ready to go. The wife and I went through and picked out blanks for those that didn't have a blank in the box. I got the idea last night to put a note with the drill bit size in each one. I could separate them to drill several at a time without changing bits. I had already set up the lathe with the pen jaws. Here is a photo of the stacks of boxes.
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Woodchipper said:
In the past, I got the idea of putting kits in the plastic lunch meat containers. I had 16 ready to go. The wife and I went through and picked out blanks for those that didn't have a blank in the box. I got the idea last night to put a note with the drill bit size in each one. I could separate them to drill several at a time without changing bits. I had already set up the lathe with the pen jaws. Here is a photo of the stacks of boxes.View attachment 375596
Click to expand...
It looks like you're going to be busy. I wish I could get organized. All I do is clean a spot to put more stuff!!!
 
In the late 90's I bought 50 9x12-2.5 inch deep stacking trays when I had my color lab in my studio. We used them for individual orders as the job was printed. After we went digital I got rid of the lab and took them home. I do 20 pens at a time. They are different colors so I use that as a color code. If I am doing 4 or 5 of patrizios, for example, I put them all into one color and put the drill bit and bushings in the top one. It works great, I think you will find that you are going to love these little boxes....I go thru and do all the cutting to size, then the drilling, and so on. If you encounter a problem with a particular one, be sure to include a note so you will remember to fix it. So add post it notes to your collection there. IMHO the more organization you have the better you are....
 
Thanks for sharing, Mike. After devouring the contents (pastrami is my favorite, BTW), my wife always asks if I can use the container or it goes into the cabinet. Those red containers get a workout for leftovers, too. Good idea to drop in a Post It Note to be aware of a problem. The same if something happens and find you are short a part to complete the build. Anyone turning pens will face a problem...or two...or three.
 
Kenny, that is so true. Thanks for sharing.
My sister in law passed away in May. Wife and our kids are going through things now. Amazing what can accumulate in only 43 years.
 
I've been collecting stuff longer than that so I understand. I just tell our only son if he's going to get it for nothing so he can clean it up. If you have any hobby at all it doesn't take much to start accumulating piles of things. Plus as you get older and family passed away you want to keep sentimental things. I used to be pretty good at remembering where things are but never organized. Now I struggle to remember which pile it's in.
 
My shop is organized chaos. I usually know where things are, but frequently have to move them around to make space on the bench. I do have containers like yours (the larger Costco versions) in which I keep kits in various stages of the process. The kits are in shoe box sized storage containers and are surprisingly well organized. After that, all bets are off. Where did I put that bin?

Once I cut the blanks, they go back in the bag with the kit and into a bin they go. Once they are drilled, back in the bag and into another bin. They don't usually stay there long before glue up. If I need space between glue up and squaring, I put them back in the bag and back into a bin, but I usually square them up before repacking the bags. Either way, once they are squared up and ready to turn, they go into another bin (I currently have 2 of them in this stage). But wait, there's more... there are the bins where blowouts go until I decide if I want to do anything with them, and for cutoffs, and for spare parts. So many bins, but there's always room for another (but, is there really?)
 
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