Very New to Pen Turning

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salvy2sr

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
3
Location
New York
Hello to all, My name is Sal and I am so new that I have not yet purchased any equipment or supplies, I have been watching YouTube videos and think I am ready to jump in. I live in NY and have been looking on many websites to purchase pen making supplies and equipment. It seems I am just under 2 hours away from Penn State Industries in Pennsylvania. After the New Year I want to take a trip there instead of ordering online so I can have some personal interaction. I am a bit of an extremist so I am ready to equip myself with a fully stocked workshop. I want to start with a lathe and it looks like PSI has the equipment I need as a beginner and beyond. I was also looking to buy a bench top drill press, band saw, scroll saw and dust collection system from Craftsman (I am open for suggestion). I will be building my shop outside in the spring but may start in the basement of my home. I am so excited about this because I see it as the beginning of a wide variety of woodworking fun. I have been collecting and smoking pipes for 35 years now and hope I can use the pen making experience for my pipe collecting/smoking hobby. Please feel free to comment with any advice you may have and I look forward to sharing my experience with you all
 
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Welcome from louisiana.... Get a good lathe to start with....V/S and look into drilling your blanks on the lathe....drill press would be great make sure the travel is enough to drill through the blanks ( ask me how I know lol). Look in the vendors section on this site.. As always have fun....but be safe...some glues have strong smell... Psi had a DVD on what to get to start turning on there web store...It free see if they still have it....lot of good info on that DVD...Ok that is my dime worth....lol.
 
Hello, and welcome from Monroe Michigan. Like others have said focus on a good lathe, and I would include a good set of turning tools (my preference is carbide so I can spend less time sharpening) and probably sacrifice the band and scroll saw. A drill press or chuck to drill on the lathe, and a chop saw to trim blanks.
 
Welcome from NJ. May I make the first suggestion. Lose the pipes and do it soon. If you want to stick around and enjoy this hobby for a long time, seriously give up smoking. Use the pipes for props or something but nothing good can come from smoking or chewing. Tobacco kills:eek: That is not a hobby.

As far as equipping the shop, take your time. No need for a scroll saw now. Get the basics. Buy the best you can afford. Good quality tools goes a long way to a successful hobby.

Plenty of good info throughout the forum. Here are a couple threads that may interest you.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f30/beginners-other-tooling-needed-make-pens-129265/



http://www.penturners.org/forum/f30/now-i-need-list-things-buy-make-pen-135926/



http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/starting-out-i-only-want-buy-things-once-what-best-134739/
 
Welcome from western NY (Rochester). Remember, when looking at lathes, with a small lathe you will be turning only smaller items. With a larger lathe you can turn bigger items and small items.

Check out some other websites... Woodcraft, Craft Supplies USA, Rockler etc to get an idea of lathes and other tools that are available.
 
I do not turn many pens but have been working with wood a long time. I would suggest if you have the space get larger tools the bench tops limit what you can do if you expand you wood working you will want larger tools.
 
Welcome from Fort Nelson! I am new as well and you cant go wrong by jumping in. Basic tools to start are easy. Youtube has become very valuable resource when it comes to techniques for turning and finishing. Good luck! You will be addicted soon enough.
 
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