Pen Demo at The Great Canadian Rust Junkie Fest

[darrin1200]

I am going to be doing my first festival demo. While it's not a pen making event, I know there are a few pen makers that always show up.
It started, geared to woodworkers, but has evolved into a great maker fest.
It's going to be just south of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. —13th July, 2024 — Event starts at 9am with demos starting a noon until the raffle and BBQ at 5pm.
Overnight camping space is available.
Some info HERE

Now that I have a little, portable, General Maxi lathe, I figured I can give this a shot.
William Wood-Write is sponsoring my demo, as well as donating abeginner set up kit for the raffle draw. I am going to make a few of their Maple Leaf pen kits throughout the day. They will include a couple of twist Sierra style, as well as a rollerball and fountain pen.
My plan is to prepare the blanks before hand, but I will still do a drilling and gluing demo.
I'll show mandrel turning, as well as a couple of methods of Between Center turning.
I am going to show a friction finish, a CA finish as well as a plastic finish (probably one of my Alumilite blanks)
The finished pens will likely go into the raffle, to raise funds for the event.

If anyone has any pointers, ideas or tricks. Let me know. As I said, this is my first time doing an event like this.

 

[duncsuss]

My only tip is safety related - my turning club demonstrates at the Topsfield Fair every year, we have 2 lathes there and demonstrate pens, small bowls, spinning tops, small boxes, and so on. Both lathes have a plexiglass screen in between the lathe and where the public stand - the sheet is something like 100cm x 100cm square, not sure how thick it is but strong enough to stop a flying 6" bowl blank from hitting someone watching.

The sheet is mounted in a wooden frame with legs that hold it so the bottom edge of the viewing window is about lathe bed height.

Keeps them from getting shavings down their clothes too

 

[darrin1200]

My only tip is safety related - my turning club demonstrates at the Topsfield Fair every year, we have 2 lathes there and demonstrate pens, small bowls, spinning tops, small boxes, and so on. Both lathes have a plexiglass screen in between the lathe and where the public stand - the sheet is something like 100cm x 100cm square, not sure how thick it is but strong enough to stop a flying 6" bowl blank from hitting someone watching.

The sheet is mounted in a wooden frame with legs that hold it so the bottom edge of the viewing window is about lathe bed height.

Keeps them from getting shavings down their clothes too

Thanks Duncan. I think I have a piece of plexiglass in the shop that's just big enough.