$1000 pen

dbledsoe · Mar 15, 2012

Hello all - new member here.
My name is Dave Bledsoe and I live in south central Mississippi. I just recently decided to try this fascinating hobby, and I just last night tried pen-turning for the first time. I got a Jet 10x14 vsi and some tooling and supplies, so I figure this first effort probably cost me about a grand and it won't be worth showing pictures of when I get it finished. After this one, they should be much better and certainly much cheaper.
I'll put this pen on a shelf to remind me in ten years how I started. It's a Gatsby click in scrap walnut.
I'm looking forward to reading all your posts and tips, and hoping to meet some of you in the future.

Manny · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome
Pics! We need Pics!

GoodTurns · Mar 15, 2012

welcome aboard! Stick with it and you will be amazed at how much you improve from the first try!

mredburn · Mar 15, 2012

GoodTurns said:
welcome aboard! Stick with it and you will be amazed at how much you improve from the first try!

And how much it willl cost you!:biggrin::biggrin:

Jim Burr · Mar 15, 2012

Good to have ya here! Since there are no pic's...there is no pen. Cardinal rule violation!:wink::biggrin:

bobjackson · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome from northern Ohio.

PenMan1 · Mar 15, 2012

You NEED to put this first pen in a shadow box and display it proudly. THEN YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY "Ah, those were the days! Back then, I had ONLY spent $1,000 on this addiction."

ironman123 · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome from Central Texas.

Ray

G1Pens · Mar 15, 2012

PenMan1 said:
You NEED to put this first pen in a shadow box and display it proudly. THEN YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY "Ah, those were the days! Back then, I had ONLY spent $1,000 on this addiction."

AGREE....that is what I did with mine. I see it every day on my wall. It is a reminder of my progress and the start of something that I really enjoy.

BTW, Welcome from GA

PenMan1 · Mar 15, 2012

I'm not HALF as good a pen maker as I aspire to be! Unfortunately, I'm TWICE the pen maker I can AFFORD to be!

I cut myself in the shop yesterday and I bled pen tools

mredburn · Mar 15, 2012

PenMan1 said:
I'm not HALF as good a pen maker as I aspire to be! Unfortunately, I'm TWICE the pen maker I can AFFORD to be!

Amen Brother Andy

wood-of-1kind · Mar 15, 2012

If "ONLY" your "bleeding" would stop at $1000.00:biggrin:

Welcome to the endless money pit. At least we are having fun.

Enjoy your stay here.

paintspill · Mar 15, 2012

there are $1000 dollar pens around. just tell your freinds its worth 1000. your not lying

aerosupra · Mar 15, 2012

HAHA, yeah this all got started with a $50 used lathe...never thought that would be the cheapiest expense to this hobby...ah well, there are worse things to be addicted to...

MarkD · Mar 15, 2012

PenMan1 said:
I cut myself in the shop yesterday and I bled pen tools

I cut myself in the shop yesterday and I BLEED ON my pen tools

MarkD · Mar 15, 2012

I hope you don't have the illusion that it will get less expensive! :wink:

Haynie · Mar 15, 2012

hello

76winger · Mar 15, 2012

My first pen is a 3 1/2 year old slimline made from white oak. It sits in my keyboard tray of my desk and gets used regularly. Welcome to the IAP forums!

76winger · Mar 15, 2012

dbledsoe said:
Hello all - new member here.
My name is Dave Bledsoe and I live in south central Mississippi. I just recently decided to try this fascinating hobby, and I just last night tried pen-turning for the first time. I got a Jet 10x14 vsi and some tooling and supplies, so I figure this first effort probably cost me about a grand and it won't be worth showing pictures of when I get it finished. After this one, they should be much better and certainly much cheaper.
I'll put this pen on a shelf to remind me in ten years how I started. It's a Gatsby click in scrap walnut.
I'm looking forward to reading all your posts and tips, and hoping to meet some of you in the future.

You've got an interesting opportunity here - You can post a picture of it on here and then periodically you can post later models and see how not only your pens, but your pen photography improves with time and practice. I'd say GO FOR IT! :highfive:

joefrog · Mar 15, 2012

HA, great idea! I have yet to make my first -- I plan to sometime this weekend! I think I will do the same thing. Maybe make a little case for it and engrave a plaque, "The $1,000.00 Pen!"

feeneypens · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome aboard! I'd love to see pictures of it!

tim self · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome from Oklahoma. Only spent a grand? Just a drop in the bucket.

feeneypens · Mar 15, 2012

My first pen was a slimline pen made with maple stained brown. It still to this date gets admiration.

ctubbs · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome Dave, from far west Kentucky, to the addiction, sometimes referred to as the vortex. Be sure to give the library a good bit of time. The link is at the top of the page. You will find an article called Library Index. This covers tutorials on about anything pen making you can think of. You will also notice that there are articles listed by year. Much good info there as well. When these fail to answer your questions, by all means post it here. I have never seen one go unanswered very long. You might also want to give this thread a good look. It has some very good info for the beginning pen turner; http://content.penturners.org/librar...en_turning.pdf. Grab some wood, make some shavings and have fun all the while being safe.
Have a look at the series of videos ed4copies has just posted showing how to complete a pen from drill to finish.

Charles

thewishman · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome! In about 10 to 25 more pens, you'll have another $1000 in "necessary" tools in your shop. They do make the job better and easier, though.

Glenn McCullough · Mar 15, 2012

wish I had saved my first, got started when we were using a chisel and stone tablets...no one suggested it and I fixed it up and sold it. welcome to the IAP from the mitten.

hilltopper46 · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome, from Wisconsin.

The price per pen drops off fairly sharply at first, but then begins a slow climb upward when you begin to realize all the things you can't do without. :tongue:

leehljp · Mar 15, 2012

Welcome! Your $1000 pen beats my $500 pen for my first one. :biggrin: But they gradually escalated to $1000+.

South Central MS: Brookhaven to Hattiesburg. Somewhere in that area? There have been several members on the coast and one current active member from Hattiesburg on here. His moniker is GrantH.

I am on the other end of the state from you, just south of Memphis. Enjoy this madness!

rherrell · Mar 16, 2012

Welcome!

Johnny westbrook · Mar 16, 2012

Welcome from the Mississippi Delta

Jim15 · Mar 16, 2012

Welcome.

sumterdad · Mar 16, 2012

Welcome and you will find as others have said. It will take more out of your wallet down the rd

SDB777 · Mar 16, 2012

Welcome aboard.
But that thousand dollar pen is worth it's weight in gold for therapy!

Scott

hunter-27 · Mar 16, 2012

PenMan1 said:
I'm not HALF as good a pen maker as I aspire to be! Unfortunately, I'm TWICE the pen maker I can AFFORD to be!

Absolutely SPOT ON in describing how I feel about my work. Only problem with your statement is it is not accurate for your work.

Ligget · Mar 19, 2012

Welcome to the IAP Dave!

lion6255 · Mar 19, 2012

Welcome to this wonderful "cheap" hobby.

Or at least that what one of the videos off of you tube I watched said.
Central Virginia here!

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