Speed Test

[Dehn0045]

Last night I didn't have much time to work in the shop. I decided to see how fast I could make a simple slimline pen. I am new to penmaking and have just been giving all my stuff away to friends at work. Normally it has been taking about 1.5 to 2 hours for me to complete a pen (minus the blank prep). My thought is that by going fast I can highlight the areas where I should be spending more time and speed up in areas where I am spending more time than necessary. I started this pen with a 3/4 X 3/4 X 6" patagonian rosewood blank and completed in about 45 minutes.

My thoughts:
1.) a casual observer (guys at work) probably can't tell the difference
2.) I overturned a bit. I need to make sure I take the extra time getting flush with the bushings
3.) I don't have a drill press, normally I bore on the lathe but I used the cordless to save time. Also, I use a disk sander to barrel trim. Since my hole wasn't centered, I didn't get the trim flush with the tube. It is worth the extra time to bore on the lathe... or I need to buy a drill press
4.) I went much faster on the CA finish and I still like the result. I was normally spending 30-45 minutes on my finish alone, did this one in 5.
5.) I had been using 5 minute epoxy on the tubes. Medium CA glue seems fine for "give away" pens. I'll probably do 5 minute epoxy for special pens in the future, but medium CA otherwise. The epoxy is so messy!

 

[skiprat]

There are certain things in life that really really really shouldn't be rushed. :wink:
In fact, there are a couple of things that if you rush them, you may not be allowed to do it again for ages. Either that or you'll be running that race on your own in future !!:beauty:

So......moral of the story is... If you want to enjoy doing what you are doing, then take your time. :wink:

 

[jttheclockman]

OK now that you did that, you have to ask yourself what is my goal. Am I going to be a big time seller of many pens or am I going to be a specialist and make out of the ordinary special pens. One thing is you need your work to stand out above others. It may do this in the fit and finish or the blank used or the custom blank you made. Anyone and I mean anyone can spin wood or plastic and press parts together and call themselves a pen maker. I do not want to be labeled a pen maker. I am an artisan that happens to create special hand made pens. You want a pen there are many vendors that can mass produce them with good quality on machines and if you want a company name I have a good one for you.

You will naturally get faster as you do more and more. You will learn where you can cut time without and the key word is without sacrificing quality. Do one blank pens and your work production doubled without having to make any changes.

I am never in the speed mode. I will not take large orders so never under that pressure. I do this as a hobby and it has proven lucrative at times. Need to establish what your goals are and what type pen you want to make and if you are going to go the sales route. Quality is the key word and make yourself stand out above the rest. Good luck.

 

[leehljp]

Keep this bookmarked. In a year come back, read it and compare. Do it again in two years. Progressions are made, and several methods will be developed in which you may use one method one time and another method another time.

There are times that I will make a pen just to get one done, then there are those that I am not in a hurry and just see what develops.

I haven't kept up in the last few years but back 8 and 10 years ago, there would be periodic questions along this line: How many pens can you make in an hour? Or, How long does it take to make a pen? There would be two groups that answered this: Those who wanted to see how fast they could finish a complete pen start to finish, and those who make a living selling pens at shows and craft fairs. To the second group, they did have to be fairly mistake free but at the same time - time was/is money, so making as many as possible was/is a requirement.

On the other hand, the higher priced pens require more delicate fit and finish and time. There is a point in which practice and an artist's eye combined with spending extra time increases the potential sales price to the point it will more than justify the extra time spent.

 

[skiprat]

John, you and I could have fallen from the same tree...:biggrin: We said the exact same thing, I reckon we must be long lost brothers or something....hey, maybe you're my dad !!! :biggrin:

 

[leehljp]

John, you and I could have fallen from the same tree...:biggrin: We said the exact same thing, I reckon we must be long lost brothers or something....hey, maybe you're my dad !!! :biggrin:

Heaven forbid! :biggrin::laugh:

 

[Dehn0045]

There are certain things in life that really really really shouldn't be rushed. :wink:
In fact, there are a couple of things that if you rush them, you may not be allowed to do it again for ages. Either that or you'll be running that race on your own in future !!:beauty:

So......moral of the story is... If you want to enjoy doing what you are doing, then take your time. :wink:

Indeed, safety first!

 

[skiprat]

Yep, and now Hank is my cousin or something !!!

It's like we all share a brain cell or something amazing like that...

 

[jttheclockman]

John, you and I could have fallen from the same tree...:biggrin: We said the exact same thing, I reckon we must be long lost brothers or something....hey, maybe you're my dad !!! :biggrin:

Now SON why haven't you listened to me all these years:biggrin::biggrin:

After I posted I saw the time stamp and we both were typing the same time. Hank agrees with us too. Maybe he is our Dad. :biggrin:

Oh this is too funny. We are on the same wave length.

 

[Dehn0045]

glad I could spark the family reunion

 

[skiprat]

Sorry we kinda hijacked your post Sam, but we are strange folk here. I think the more sensible elders ( John and Hank of course ) did answer you though. :biggrin:

Welcome aboard by the way:wink:

 

[Cwalker935]

When I first started turning pens I prided myself on how quickly I could turn a pen. Turning pens is a hobby and not a business for me I eventually decided why the rush, take your time and try to turn out pens with better fit and finish. By staging work cutting, drilling, gluing prepping and turning several pens at the same time, I could cut my time per pen down substantially. I rarely do this since I am not into production turning.

 

[Dehn0045]

When I first started turning pens I prided myself on how quickly I could turn a pen. Turning pens is a hobby and not a business for me I eventually decided why the rush, take your time and try to turn out pens with better fit and finish. By staging work cutting, drilling, gluing prepping and turning several pens at the same time, I could cut my time per pen down substantially. I rarely do this since I am not into production turning.

I agree, I use it as a productive way to avoid plopping in front the TV and getting mad at the news. I'm not implying that I will always turn out pens as fast as possible. But just wanted to highlight for myself the areas where I should be spending more time, and maybe some areas where excess time spent is unproductive. In the end there must be a balance between quality and time.

 

[jongunz]

My time to complete a pen was reduced drastically by purchasing CA Accelerator....

 

[Eldermike]

I turn pens for fun and help pass my time so speed is never an issue. I'm a slow man working and still over/under turn parts on occasion. Getting better. If I were doing high volume turning to make a living I guess I'd set up some production stations to help speed up the process. Might even consider a lathe duplicator for tooling speed/accuracy and maybe a separate finishing station. Thankfully I don't need to do that - would seem like a J O B.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app

 

[Curly]

Oh God, now we have a johnrat and a hankrat too!

While a speed challange isn't a bad idea if you like to test yourself. For the most part your efficiency will improve over time because of repetition, improving your techniques and adopting new methods. The upside is you make fewer mistakes and you get more satisfaction as you get better.

 

[Smitty37]

Once the blanks are drilled and the tubes inserted, It doesn't take very long to turn a slimline (or most other pens for that matter) depending somewhat on the blank material. When I drill the blank and insert the tube I always allow at least 24 hours before proceeding - not really necessary but I do it anyway. When I was making a lot of slimline pens, I spent some time drilling (on my drill press) blanks, and then inserting tubes for about 200 pens. Once that was done, since both bbls on a slimline can be turned at the same time, turning and finishing a pen was probably not more than half an hour or so (I don't use CA finish) most of which was spent sanding I used 9 or 10 micro mesh grits. Due to lung problems I don't turn many pens now and I will drill and insert the tubes one day and do the turning the next and seldom have more than two pens going at the same time. Never in a rush.

 

[ed4copies]

When I sold a lot of pens, I had to make a lot of pens. ACRYLIC (or resins) was the biggest contributor to speed--finishing takes MUCH LESS time.