PenTurnerfromMaine
Member
I have recently joined the IAP and would like to thank everyone that posts information, helps out with others' problems or discusses techniques. This has been a place to learn more, take in ideas and contemplate bettering my pen making abilities. In the past I have avoided forums or information boards for all the nonsense that seems to go along with some of them. This environment has been much more condusive to advancing the topic.
I am a lifetime woodworker and have been turning for about 14 years now. About 10 years ago I discovered pen turning - just making a few here and there. I've gotten a lot more serious in the last couple of years with fit and finish. I have had the opportunity to teach others about pen turning through a project that we did at church. We turned over 400 pens & some pencils from a church pew from our old church, dated 1880. We sold them as a bit of a fundraiser, but mostly as a service. It was a big deal to move to a brand new building but through the pens people could have a tangilble reminder of the building that meant so much to them over the years. We had quite the production set up in my basement shop. We were very pleased to be able to send 50+ to freedom pens.
My previous job involved a lot of travel which impacted my shop time, even when I was home, the shop had to take a back seat to connecting with my family (wonderful wife and three kids). But my employer recently changed, allowing me to be home every night and spend some more serious shop time. So I can start to indulge my passions on the lathe a little more: pens, eggs and bowls.
The IAP - you, have been a great resource for me to work toward greater quality in my pen making. For the last couple of months I have been reading and soaking up the information that you have shared - and really appreciate it. Thank you for sharing.
I am a lifetime woodworker and have been turning for about 14 years now. About 10 years ago I discovered pen turning - just making a few here and there. I've gotten a lot more serious in the last couple of years with fit and finish. I have had the opportunity to teach others about pen turning through a project that we did at church. We turned over 400 pens & some pencils from a church pew from our old church, dated 1880. We sold them as a bit of a fundraiser, but mostly as a service. It was a big deal to move to a brand new building but through the pens people could have a tangilble reminder of the building that meant so much to them over the years. We had quite the production set up in my basement shop. We were very pleased to be able to send 50+ to freedom pens.
My previous job involved a lot of travel which impacted my shop time, even when I was home, the shop had to take a back seat to connecting with my family (wonderful wife and three kids). But my employer recently changed, allowing me to be home every night and spend some more serious shop time. So I can start to indulge my passions on the lathe a little more: pens, eggs and bowls.
The IAP - you, have been a great resource for me to work toward greater quality in my pen making. For the last couple of months I have been reading and soaking up the information that you have shared - and really appreciate it. Thank you for sharing.
