What is the makeup of the forum membership?

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Imported poll question missed, please edit

  • I'm retired and turn pens as a hobby

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I'm retired and turn pens for fun and possibly profit

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I still work full time and turn pens as a hobby

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I still work full time and turn pens for addtional income

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Making pens is my full time job

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
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T

Texatdurango

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
4,649
Location
Show Low, Arizona
I only took up wood turning since I retired and it seems that the majority of folks I meet at the turners clubs and forums are also retired but on this forum I realize there are many younger folks so I am curious as to the percentages so please select a category....
 
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I retired after spending 30 years with a large aerospace company. I started turning this year purely for the fun of it and gave all but a few of my pens away to friends and family but now pens are piling up on me so I can either stop making them or start selling some.
 
I voted other, as I am 41 years old and now disabled due to a work accident. I turn for therapy, fun and maybe get a little of my outlay back eventually. Not profit![:D]
 
I am 46, turn for fun (and mental therapy). I did not really consider doing it for money until I found this site. Maybe someday I can quit one of my jobs and pick up the slack with my pens and my bowls. I guess I have seperation issues, I can't stand to part w/ my creations. That and to me, they are all priceless.
 
I built my 'shop' from scratch to use for personal enjoyment and such. Two weeks after finishing everything I went to bed Dec. 30, 2006 following a long day working and woke up the next morning and discovered I had a stroke during the night. Rather a rude awakening I tell you!

SO I retired and now sit and 'look' at the shop. I get out there a bit ever now and then, but so far I do not feel really comfortable around all the saws and such.

I am getting better and will get out there more and more as it cools off here in GA. In the meantime I read everything that goes on here at the IAP Forum and chime in with my $0.02 worth ever so often. [:D]
 
I'm retired from the Navy, work part-time as a substitute teacher, and turn pens as stress relief for a couple of problems I won't go into here. I've sold a few, but mostly I give them to family or friends to mark various circumstances in their lives.
 
I work full-time as a hands-on IT Manager. I'm responsible for protecting more than 100 TBs of imagery and making sure everyone has the services they need when they need it. I make sawdust for fun and sell my work because -- well, folks buy it [:D]
If I ever retire, I'll continue making sawdust and probably do shows. LOML and I like traveling and meeting people. And, I like making pens that folks like.
 
I still work full time as a Mechanical Engineer, Quality Control Manager in a pressure vessel shop designing and building Hazardous Material Vacuum trucks. I work 50-60 hrs per week, and have a 55 mile commute thru traffic each way (110 total per day). I built my shop way back in 1972 as a welding shop, and have been steadily remodeling it and converting it to a wood-working shop. Plus keeping up and repairing the 55 year old homestead, Taking care of my 83 year old father who lives with us (he has leukemia), and then do the woodworking (building furniture and such). The LOML does quilting and crafts so I also make things for her to take to shows and sell and such. Oh I also am trying to turn pens[:D][:D] Have been working this weekend installing a central dust collection system throughout my 30'x40' shop. It ain't easy and is frustrating with fittings that aren't standard. Thank God for duct tape[:D] I am 58, and getting ready for retirement.

Rob
 
I had a tough one answering this one.. I answered work full time/hobby turn.. but it is eventually going to be additional income. Right now, I'm just enjoying making unique things and selling them to pay off what I bought (lathe, mandrils, etc).

As long as this stays as enjoyable as it is, I'll keep going and so eventually it could be additional income.
 
I am 52, work full time as a Senior Scientist in a company for surface treatment chemicals (no paints, though). Penturning is a hobby for me (still), but also a nice source of some additional money....
 
Well, I picked other. I am a 36 yr old stay at home Mom of 3 wonderful kids 15, 2 & 4 months. I turn as a stress relief, and some all by-my-self time. Even though Shane and I share the <s>illness</s> oh sorry passion for turning, he has to work full time to buy me more tools! [:D] Dang I got it good! [:D] [:D] We are slowly but surly turning this <s>illness</s> oh I sliped again hobby into a small business.
 
I'm a third generation master carpenter, although it skipped a generation with my dad, he's a doctor, pfftt! I was in the hospitality business for years, but furniture making is in my blood. I sold a coffee shop I had and began building houses. Switched to commercial, and then contracting from the military. I've always had a shop for building furniture, my favorite being Early American style. I still get commisions for furniture, but only have time to build 3 or 4 pieces a year. That's why I love making pens. I can make 3 or 4 a week, and people love them.
 
I picked work full time and turn for additional income, but that's only partly true. I'm the Purchasing Manager for an engineering/construction firm, but I actually only work part time. I get paid by the hour and can pretty much choose when I want to work and when I don't. The additional income is true to a point, but I'm trying to build a business that will provide a decent supplemental income when I retire, which could be just about any time since I'm old enough to start collecting social security.
 
I picked other. At the moment we are on a very low income with hubby starting a new apprenticeship my pens are helping with additional income.
Toni
 
I am always amazed at the diversity of the membership here - the variety of occupations, other hobbies, places where they live, level of "expertise", etc. Since I'm a professional musician and teacher in public school, woodworking is a great alter ego thing - very rewarding to see a final product after all the toil. Many times with teaching (especially young kids) you don't see the "final" product (hopefully a responsible, mature adult). Keep the ideas coming!

Mike G.
 
Fred,
I just read your post and want to offer you wishes for a speedy and full recovery.
With proper jigs and hold-downs much of the work around your power tools can become safe.
I don't know what you own so I can't offer anything precisely that you need but if there's a jig, sled, hold-down or some such that would allow you to use your shop, please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be happy to build something for your use as a gift.
 
I wish there had been a voting category that said "I still work full time and turn pens for fun and possibly profit," cause that's where I would fit. I still have a day job (117 more days), but I turn pens to sell in my craft fair booth, and I have a couple of customers that I sell my pens (and engraved boxes) to around holidays--with more possibles coming this holiday season.

Nancy
 
I work full time as an IT Manager in a 340-bed hospital. I gave up doing computer consulting, because it was no longer fun. I was tired for doing the IT thing for 10-12 hours each day and then spending nights and weekends doing it as well.

I have fallen back into woodworking as a hobby, and was interested in buying a small lathe since I had never used one. I came across pen making supplies in a catalog and asked "Why on earth would anyone make a pen? You can buy these at Wally World!" A friend of mine invited me to a pen making class at WoodCraft, and I was hooked in 5 minutes!!

So far, I have made about 3 dozen pens and have given most of them away. I have a shop ready to take some on consignment, so I will be selling as well as gift giving my products.
 
I work for the Social Security Administration. I am currently on worker's comp due to a work related injury. My penturning addiction began as a way to eliminate boredom and from watching TV all day. Although I can't spend as much time turning because I am unable to stand for more than a few minutes I enjoy it immensely. I hope to turn this into a part time income opportunity simply to continue turning.
 
I'm a professional fire fighter and a CFI fire investigator. I turn calls, pens, bowls and vases with every second of free time. I do sell my calls and other turnings to feed my turning addiction.



Brian.
 
I work full time for a startup Biotech company (project management). Married, but no kids yet, so there is a little time for Hobbies (woodturning and fly fishing). I don't know if what I earn from turning pens counts as income (the IRS will think so). I am more or less hoping to offset some of the costs of my hobbies. I just started selling and have been suprised by the response (very positive). As the Holidays get closer I think I will be busy keeping my inventory up.

Mike
 
I work full time as a data manager and sell pens and bird houses to pay for my habbit. I would probably stop doing this if I could just stop buying wood and kits.[:p] I've got about 25 years until retirement and wouldn't mind having a small business turning to occupy my time.
 
Full time seminary student, work as a carpenter on campus 30+ hours a week, and turn pens for fun and profit (about 50% either way) when I'm not loaded down with classwork.
 
Was a programmer for 20 years, then a kitchen designer, now a full time pen maker. What started out as a hobby turned into a obsession now a passion. One of these days I can truely say that I am making a profit.
 
I am a physical therapist. I've been involved with wood since I was old enough, or tall enough to hold a sheet of plywood as my father ripped it across a table saw.

Gary MGg: if we get information from the PT or MD about Freds defecits I wouldn't mind throwing my .02 into any of the jigs or hold-downs to help
 
I work full time as a Molder/Coremaker in a Steel foundry. I've always worked with wood as a hobby. With penturning I've actually found something I can enjoy doing plus make a nice chunk of change. I hope to retire within the next ten years and become a full time penturner, traveling and doing more shows.
 
I'm a retired manufacturing financial type guy. I've always woodworked but since I bought my first lathe a few months ago I have been putting together my newly purchased/built stuff. I especially enjoy the artistic and design elements to turning as well as tool & jig making.

And this site is the most rewarding group I have ever belonged to. Good folks willing to reveal the most secret techniques that they used. Well, not all secrets. But valuable knowledge. Thanks fellows & ladies.

Bob Snare
Broomfield Colorado
 
47 years old and own a company called Swampland Rods. I build fishing rods full time and sell them at boat and outdoor shows along the southern states. I do a fair amount of craft shows starting in October when the boat shows are winding down and sell quite a few pens then. About 35% of my income comes from pen making.
 
I'm a full time college student and I'm learning & improving my penturning skills. My family has commented that I should join the flea market and sell these items along w/ my mother's items (she knits stuff).

*shrug* Only time will tell.[:)]
 
Well, 48 now, and still a machinist/programmer/tool designer/shop foreman, and busted tool fixer[:D](job security!), and vise maker!. Oh yeah, and father to 2 big boys(out of the house) and a 9, 4 and almost 3 yo. Kind of remember what turning a pen is, just haven't had much time. Did get a three pen order the other day though, so.....
 
I am a 62 year old Minister of Education and Adminstration in a Baptist church. I've been in full time church related vocations for nearly 40 years. My wife and I have two children, a daughter 34 and a son 22. There's 11 1/2 years between the children which means you don't have two in college or braces at the same time.[:D] When my daughter started college my son started first grade. That's 24 years of PTA!!
Started turning pens last year as a hobby because I wanted to learn something I could continue when I retire. It's a great stress reliever (not that church work causes stress. [:D] Love this site.
 
I am a 50 year old Booker/.net programmer/ex-auto parts guy, (yeah that guy that makes you have to go back after saying, it'll work just try it.)...
I started turning again after stopping when my wife got sick. Took several years to get back into it. Never turned pens before. I think this is the most fun I've had with a lathe. I started turning again to give gifts for Christmas and other things. A friend at work is getting my geared up to have some pens in a gallery, so I guess I'm a hobbiest that is going to sell some also..
 
Originally posted by drawknife
<br />I am a 50 year old Booker/.net programmer/ex-auto parts guy, (yeah that guy that makes you have to go back after saying, it'll work just try it.)...
I started turning again after stopping when my wife got sick. Took several years to get back into it. Never turned pens before. I think this is the most fun I've had with a lathe. I started turning again to give gifts for Christmas and other things. A friend at work is getting my geared up to have some pens in a gallery, so I guess I'm a hobbiest that is going to sell some also..
Click to expand...

I see this is your first post. Welcome!! (I like your tag line)
 
I am a teacher and currently in my 22nd year....teaching Physical Education and Health. I have been doing flat work for 20 years or so, and have been turning off and on when flat projects have needed something. I sell pens on a custom order basis, but more than that, give them away as gifts.
 
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I'm 55 and work full time doing regulatory work for a Fortune 500 company. My job is fairly stressful and requires long hours so I do hand-tool woodworking and turn pens as stress relief and as presents. I seem to find lots of reasons to make and give pens away, most recently I made a wedding pen for my daughter's nuptials.
 
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