Getting started - my first pens and pencils

[JCJRSmith]

Got my lathe last week at the Woodcraft sale, and now that things have warmed up around here, I spent some time this evening giving this pen turning thing a shot.

Now I'm hooked :biggrin:

The black set was done first, pen then pencil. Then I did the silver set for SWMBO.

So, how did I do?

 

[george]

Very nice work. Welcome to the world of penturning.

 

[markgum]

excellant work. welcome to the addiction...

 

[jackrichington]

hello, fellow addict

 

[Silver]

Hi, Well done, they look brill. I have recently joined the IAP. been turning pens a while now but didn't know there were so may "penhatters" out there until this winter when it got too cold for the workshop here in the UK.

 

[igran7]

Very well done. Welcome to the group. Hope to see some more of your work soon.

 

[arjudy]

Welcome to the madness.:biggrin:

 

[Dalecamino]

These are your first pens & pencils ???? Very nice work !

 

[JimB]

You did great! My first pens didn't look that good.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Thanks all. I am having a blast with this.

And yes, those are my very first pens and pencils. Prior to turning those I had put exacly one piece of wood in the lathe and spent some time fooling about with it. I read a lot of posts, guides and tutorials, and watched a bunch of videos prior to doing the first pen.

Since I did those four, I have done 3 in oak (2 of which survived - see below) :biggrin:, one in maple, and about 5 more in rosewood.

I also discovered the meaning of the term "catch" when one of the oak pens blew apart off the brass tube.

I had no idea how much fun this was going to be.

 

[dntrost]

Hide your credit card you are ADDICTED!!!!!!:biggrin: Welcome!!!!!

 

[JCJRSmith]

Hide your credit card you are ADDICTED!!!!!!:biggrin:

Operators are stading by :biggrin:

The manager of the local Woodcraft warned me that I probably would have been better off finding a local crack dealer and giving my money to him - it will cost me less in the long run. :biggrin:

 

[dntrost]

You don't know how true that is!!!!!

 

[MajBob]

Huh?

Yo - you got you a one-eyed dawg? Sweet! :redface:

 

[Pocono Bill]

First Turnings

Welcome addict. It is always hard to give judgement from a picture, but I congratulate you on choice of components. I have seen some ugly combinations of woods and component finishes, but yours are really appealing.

I suggest you put these first pens/pencils aside so you can look back on them later. I have no idea where my first pen got to. I must have made a half dozen since then for my personal use and they disappear as well.

One last thing- how about sharing with us your choice of finishing/ buffing.

 

[Josh Gertz]

Good looking pens and pencils there. I hope my firsts look just as good...just need to find the money for the Lathe.