What is the makeup of the forum membership?

[rhahnfl]

I'm 51 and work full time servicing computers and networks for our county school system. I retired from the Navy about 13 years ago and decided this would be a hobby that could at least partially fund itself. I am having the best time making pens... haven't sold any yet but that day will come. Have given a bunch as gifts and they have been well received. I love to try new materials and ideas. Working towards casting some of my own.

 

[philb]

Well seems im the only one who hasnt had a real job!

Ive just finished uni, and have just started out turning as I did a bit of woodwork in my dads shop and thought woodturning would be a good skill to learn!

So i suppose ill have to click other as i still dont have a job and am just turning and doing other woodwork jobs!!

Im nearly 22, if that helps!

 

[maxwell_smart007]

27 year old teacher - currently looking for a new position, as I've moved back to my home town...recently engaged, and planning a wedding for next summer (or this winter in Cuba - haven't decided yet), and fairly new to woodworking (5 years of home shop training)...

Oh, History and English teacher, if anyone's curious.

 

[dahelton]

I turn pens for additional income, love of the hobby, love of wood and STRESS RELIEF. I am a RN with more than 15 years experience in emergency medicine, that's stress. I can only turn when I am away from the family so I have been known to leave work early to go to the shop. After recent brain surgery, I returned to the wood shop and turning long before I returned to nursing much to my wife's dismay... d.

 

[TellicoTurning]

I'm 65 (66 in 2 weeks) retired international shipping manager. I took up turning about 5 years ago and turn mostly for the fun of it, but trying to seel some of my work to cover at least part of the costs.. maybe someday will possibly, hopefully, maybe will be financilly profitable... right now the fun and enjoyment is pure profit.

 

[castingman]

My first post, I am the owner of an aluminum foundry. I got into pen turning to blow off some steam. I am 54 years old and always enjoyed woodworking and find pen turning just the ticket. My wife has her own company and we { or she } started a small dollar store. The old building {she bought} also has a store that sells rings and all that so i have most of my pens in there. I also make bandsaw boxes and have made some pretty neat pen boxes. Michael

 

[dalemcginnis]

I'm a supervisor at an auto parts distribution center. Got into penturning because I saw a picture of a pen someone had made on another website. Always liked working with my hands and love turning because you can produce a finished product so quickly. Someday hope to start selling enough pens to kind of sort of pay for the hobby.

 

[bob393]

Yup I turn part time for fun and profit.
I started as an inexpensive way for hand made gifts but it just took off!
I work full time and work a part time second job.
But all is good. Just no sleep!

I'm just about ready to hire a part time employee!

 

[bruce119]

I am 50 & disabled kinda retired and started pens from fishing rods. I got a lathe to do handles wile learning the lathe I discovered pens . I abandon the fishing rods and now hooked on pens. Hopefully when my house fills up with pens, which wont be long, I mite be able to do some craft shows, just to support my habit. I also enjoy cutting my own wood.

 

[OKLAHOMAN]

Somewhat retired (collect my SS but still work at Lowes 3-4 days a week for 3-4 hrs a day no weekends) and turn pens the rest of the time. I have shows lined up all Sept,Oct, and Nov. Next year hope to do between 35-40 shows so I guess thats full time.

 

[RosezPenZ]

I do all types of woodworking as a hobby. I am a full time phlebotomist and part time parts person(chainsaws, weedeaters, and lawnmowers). I have always wanted to turn and finally started last year. Turning allows me to finish a project in one setting vs several days, weeks, months. I started turning pens about 4 months ago and now cant keep up. I've only given away about 4 pens and everyone else wants to buy one when I show off my newest idea. So now I sell pens (it pays for itself quickly) and buy more toys.[] My neice and nephew say they are pretty but they want me to make more toys for them now.

 

[jhs494]

I still work full time.
I do Research & Development.
I have been doing woodworking on a small scale since I was very small.My Dad started me turning when I was very young.
My Dad still does turning, and has been pen turning for a couple years since he retired. When he started pen turning I followed and we now have another form of woodworking in common.
I must admit he is way better at it than I am.
It is great, rewarding hobby, and I hope my son follows.
I am still learning and all the great advice on the forums helps!

 

[rbeery]

I work as a consultant, but business has been slow for the last year or so. I took up pen turning at the beginning of this year(I had been turning bowls for about a year at that time) to help kill some time between jobs and fell in love with it. Since January, I have made about 100 pens, pencils, keychains, etc... I have given most items away to family and close friends but have sold about 20-25 items. It is a great feeling when someone wants to give you their hard-earned cash for something you made.

 

[PenWorks]

Mostly old, over weight, with beards [:0] [}] []
Oh....and those of us with no hair []

 

[sptfr43]

All of the above[][]

 

[Federman]

I am 29 and love to work with my hands, had some free time during the week after work so picked up some tools and started making some pens.

I work full time and go to grad school so making pens takes a backseat to my GF but I still find time to make one here and there.

 

[Charles]

Hi, I am a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) with the third largest Sheriff's Department in the country. With all the gore I see and the stress on the job, I found pen turning to be theraputic. I have currently been working about 80 hrs /wk since wife has been ill. Am 47 and hopefully she will be back to snuff soon and I can slow down on the OT and spend some time in the shop. Have been selling pens etc for several years at craft shows as extra income. And love being a part of this group. Can't wait till another Bubba's in Houston Texas get-together

 

[R2]

We went to Tasmania and my son bought a pack of 5 blanks with slimline pen kits. Didn't have a lathe so lined up my retired teacher's aide who had been turning for some years . I hadn't turned anything for well over 40 years -at High School. Was more than pleasantly surprised at the results and favourable comments from friends. Bought more kits and blanks, a Jet Mini Lathe and sufficient gear to help fill in some spare time. I become hooked, but not addicted. Now I seek out ideas where ever I can and am ready to become much more adventurous with the type of pens I turn. So far have turned over 100 species of timber and a few acrylics.Also turn bowls, lidded containers and want to start on pepper mills and some artistic turning.

 

[wpecjak]

I checked retired and turning pens as a hobby. But since just about everybody I know now has a pen, and just about everybody has a bottle stopper. I guess to keep going I am going to have to find a way to dispose of the pens or stop turning. I also discovered that are a lot of hobbies that are less expensive. But sure do love to turn pens and bottle stoppers.

 

[Steven]

I am retired Coast Guard, and started turning pens to learn more about it, now I turn to relax have given away more pens than selling them. I am not looking to turn a profit mainly for it to be self supporting. I have had my daughter turn some so she can learn new things as well. She has a passion for art so creating and making something she really enjoys.

 

[ahoiberg]

don't know how i missed this thread! very interesting to read...

i'm a 28 yeard old graduate student at iowa state univeristy, just started back this semester after being a turf manager at invesco field in denver for 6 years. now i'm taking care of the grass for ISU's athletic dept. and working toward my masters and eventually PhD in turf.

i just turn pens for fun, i've given quite a few away for gifts cause i don't have room for all of them [].

pens were my first go at woodworking... since i've become a big fan of all woodworking...

good to hear a little more about everyone.

 

[CrazyBear]

Since this one has raised its head I will introduce myself properly

I am a retired police officer (24yrs) and now work in local govenrnment. turned 50 last year and on 17 August 2007 I nearly checked out of this life due to a heart attack. It kinda changes your outloook in life.

LOML bought me a cheap lathe for christmas a couple of years ago. Turned some bowls and such and had to upgrade the lathe ( well you know what its like[][])

Have turned a few pens and handed them out as gifts. the recipients have always said I should sell them. I think it would take some of the fun out of it for me if I had to do pens or anything else to order. I love working with wood as I am a Time served city and guilds joiner to trade.

So Now I spend my time cloistered in an 8'x10' shed with lathe, wood, tools and all the powertools I can fit in, trying at the moment to find which blank I am going to use on my sons christmas present LOL

I love this site[][]