jskeen
Member
I just checked, and sure enough, I received my lathe one year ago today. Little did I know the damage I was inflicting on my spare time and money. But, given a shoestring budget and a little southern engineering it's been a fun and entertaining year, plus I have a box full of pretty nice pens (and a few sales) to show for it. I've been thinking about how much all of this has cost me, and I can't manage to account for $1000.00 that I have spent JUST ON PENS AND PEN MAKING TOOLS. Given, I had a pretty completely equipped woodworking shop up and running when I started. Also given, I do not produce pens in large quantities, I have probably finished under 100 pens to date. Starting out with slimlines and cigars, I have gotten to the point where I can turn out a Jr. Gent fountain pen that will sell to $100+ to the right person. Granted, I have more of them on hand right now than I have sold, but I'm working on some sales options short of doing the full blown Art Show route that some of us are doing. I've also been bitten by the casting bug, and have successfully created some workable and interesting blanks given a minimum level of cash investment.
This is about the second or third hobby/obsession I have been involved in since I got out of the Air Force and became civilian with a home and a workshop. I think this one may stick with me longer than knifemaking or flatwork, because it offers relatively quick gratification and at least the possibility of selling the products to cover some of the costs. Custom knifemaking offers the possibility of selling the end product, but requires days to weeks of work for each one, and there is lots of competition keeping the prices low unless you reach the extreme upper end of the market. Flatwork can be fairly quick, but is very difficult to sell, and the profit margin is slim to nonexistent, in my experience.
A common thread in all of these hobbies, and I have seen indications of it from others posts on this board too, is that there seems to be a breakpoint or transition where one changes from a relative newbie, trying to accumulate the basic tools and techniques to produce a quality final product, and becomes a fairly accomplished craftsman, trying to both refine and distinguish his product, and also find an outlet for them. This also seems to coincide with the change from one who's primary input on the forum is asking questions, to one who occasionally answers questions and sometimes contributes new or updated ideas. There also seems to be another transition point (which I am far from reaching) where one becomes something of a zen master of the craft, stepping in to offer advise and guidance on the more complex issues that come up from time to time. I find the role of forums like the IAP in these transitions interesting, and applaud those who's hard work and dedication makes them possible.
Anyway, just a few thoughts that floated to the top of my brain as I start on my second pot of coffee for the day. Please feel free to comment/correct/discuss them if you find them interesting enough.
James
This is about the second or third hobby/obsession I have been involved in since I got out of the Air Force and became civilian with a home and a workshop. I think this one may stick with me longer than knifemaking or flatwork, because it offers relatively quick gratification and at least the possibility of selling the products to cover some of the costs. Custom knifemaking offers the possibility of selling the end product, but requires days to weeks of work for each one, and there is lots of competition keeping the prices low unless you reach the extreme upper end of the market. Flatwork can be fairly quick, but is very difficult to sell, and the profit margin is slim to nonexistent, in my experience.
A common thread in all of these hobbies, and I have seen indications of it from others posts on this board too, is that there seems to be a breakpoint or transition where one changes from a relative newbie, trying to accumulate the basic tools and techniques to produce a quality final product, and becomes a fairly accomplished craftsman, trying to both refine and distinguish his product, and also find an outlet for them. This also seems to coincide with the change from one who's primary input on the forum is asking questions, to one who occasionally answers questions and sometimes contributes new or updated ideas. There also seems to be another transition point (which I am far from reaching) where one becomes something of a zen master of the craft, stepping in to offer advise and guidance on the more complex issues that come up from time to time. I find the role of forums like the IAP in these transitions interesting, and applaud those who's hard work and dedication makes them possible.
Anyway, just a few thoughts that floated to the top of my brain as I start on my second pot of coffee for the day. Please feel free to comment/correct/discuss them if you find them interesting enough.
James
