New guy from Northern Illinois

[DennisM]

Hello all,

Name is Dennis, and I have been reading and lurking for a little while around here. Just got into pen making about a week ago.

Picked up a Rikon Mini lathe and the bare necessities for pens. Thought I'd drop in and say hi. Hope to have some really interesting pen designs to showoff in the coming months.

As for other hobbies, I am a computer systems specialist by trade, own and run my own small shop. (pays the bills)

Here is the first pen I have made, its a little rough since dont have a drill press yet and trying to drill a straight hole by hand is a nightmare.

Thanks for all the great info here!

 

[PenTurnerfromMaine]

Welcome Dennis - not a bad first attempt, better than mine for sure.

 

[CaptG]

Welcome from Michigan. That is a good looking pen. Are you sure it is your first? Keep up the good work.

 

[DennisM]

Thanks for the compliments, there is a reason its not a close up detailed pic.

I need to get better at getting right down to the bushing when turning the blanks, it is a little big still, about a fingernail to large. But I think that is more due to the tube hole being off center..

It is a basic slimline kit from wc and a cheap .25 maple blank.

My ultimate goal is to make miniature replica pool cue pens. I plan on segmenting the same woods in a custom pool cue, including cutting the v's out of the barrel and replace with colored veneers to match. So hopefully by the end of the month I will have one of those to show off.

Next ones are another maple and a tulipwood, (saving that until I get a drill press to make it perfect)

 

[hilltopper46]

Welcome from southern Wisconsin.

 

[ed4copies]

Hey Dennis, Great to have you with us!!!

If you live close enough to travel to Milwuakee on the 14th of June, you would have an opportunity to learn a LOT, quickly and FREE!!

Give it some thought. We'd love to meet you in person.






BTW, the hole will be centered AFTER you turn the pen

I need to get better at getting right down to the bushing when turning the blanks, it is a little big still, about a fingernail to large. But I think that is more due to the tube hole being off center..

Not possible -- sorry.

 

[DennisM]

Where at? I am only about 40 mins south on 94/41. Well maybe an hour depending on traffic and time of day.

 

[Longfellow]

Welcome

Welcome from Sunny St. Cloud, Fla. Home of beautifuk Florida wood.

 

[ed4copies]

http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=46414

Here's more info, Dennis!!

Wood craft is on HWY 100 , easy access from I894. Might even be able to find a ride with Kent4Him (Chris-Gurnee area)

Traffic-time of day - SUNDAY about noon, traffic about 85mph ave speed in Ill, drop down to 72 when you hit Wisconsin.

 

[rherrell]

Welcome!

 

[Jim15]

Welcome Dennis.

 

[mitchm]

Dennis, welcome from sunny South Africa!

 

[JohnU]

Welcome Dennis, Nice to see another from Illinois. I dont think there's many of us here. At least not like Texas... lol

 

[Verne]

Dennis,
Welcome from a displaced Quad Citian now living in Houston.
Don't snow down here.
At least not very often.
Enjoy the madness,
Vern

 

[JackTheSquid]

Dennis,
Grew up in McHenry, the Navy brought me to Charleston and I stayed for the weather. This place is a wealth of knowledge...on just about any topic!!!

Welcome,
Jack

 

[RichB]

Welcome from Michigan. Nice job for your first. Keep it and never give it away. You can watch your progress from it. Sometimes my drill press holes look like I drilled them by hand. I have a Rikon also.

 

[leehljp]

Welcome Dennis.

Below is a link to PDF file that is a general overview of tools, methods, pens and options that might be helpful to you in making pens. It does not go into detail of the many aspects at all, but just gives a general overview and options.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=42446

 

[Fred]

Welcome to the Forum. Be sure to keep your first pen ....

Figure out how to drill on the lathe and then you don't need the drill press right away. There are other Rikon users here that can help you with the proper solution.

 

[DennisM]

This is the third pen I made, made it last today.

Its tulipwood and It was made for my wife. She loves the wood and when I saw the blank I knew I had to make her one of my first pens with it. Wish it would have turned out better now. That is one wood I doubt I will ever put in another pen.

Thanks for the warm welcome, will post more pics as I make more pens..

Dennis

 

[markgum]

welcome.

 

[Ligget]

Welcome to the IAP, nice pens!