Hello from Central Indiana

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MJWest

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Joined
Jan 14, 2025
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Location
Indiana
Hi everyone!

First off, thank you so much for letting me join your community. I've been turning for a bit now, mostly just for fun and to bring some joy to my friends in the way of gifts.

I really appreciate the artistic side of what we do, so I'm here looking for inspiration and some guidance on my journey. Plus, I'd love to learn how to make pens that could be profitable if I decide to sell them.

I've attached a couple of pens as examples of my work. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
 

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Welcome Milton. join in the fun here and turn some pens, ask questions and contribute to this great forum.

Since you are looking for the artistic side, below is a link of segmented pens to view, and it is quite long but excellent:

There are tons of Non-Segmented pen that are beautiful too, but no special thread on that. There is a "forum" though: https://www.penturners.org/forums/show-off-your-pens.13/

A few tips on how to be profitable:
1. use calipers to measure everything; do not go by bushing size. Not every customer does a precision feel, but enough do. IF there are difference in the transition to parts, most customers will notice that.
2. practice practice practice the finishing technique. A superb finish will draw people in.
3. do not offer messed up pens at a discount with the good ones. People will remember that your pens are hit and miss.
4. often times one or two expensive pens for display draw people in but they buy a lesser expensive pen. In Other words - The expensive pens sells the lesser expensive pens. Many people have said that over the years here.
5. If you want to sell, sell what people want, not what you like. There are a few people that sell what they like to make or finish - Bare wood finish with oil or wax only comes to mind. But they have a select set of clientele to which they selll, and it works for them. However, by and large, most people like shiny, shiny, shiny, And shiny sells, sells, sells.
Those are the things that come to mind quickly.
Here is a link to a thread from Mark Mayo from just a week or two ago. It is excellent and practical on "selling"

 
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