Uncle Mikey
Member
My name is Michael, and I'm a penaholic.
It all started innocently enough, as these things often do. I was browsing through some tool catalogs, looking for some things I wanted to buy, and I kept seeing tiny lathes everywhere. I thought of the turning tools in the garage that I'd picked up years before at garage sales. "No," I thought, "I don't have time to learn how to use a lathe. There's no space left, either." But the pictures kept taunting me, urging me to bring one home and try it out. The gleam of those polished rails, the visions of shavings flying everywhere .....
Alas, I succumbed. Soon a strapped heavy carton appeared on my doorstep. Tentatively, I tore it open, revealing the machinery cradled in its shapely foam. Up onto the bench it went! Parts unwrapped and grease removed, I slowly waxed its shiny metal, gazing upon its ancient form, thinking of the hundreds of years over which it had been perfected. I got out my tools, feeling their handles in my hands in a way I'd never done before. Cautiously, I started up the grinder, and watched the fine sparks shooting from the new blue wheel I'd put on just days before.
Nervously I approached the machine. And I made shavings! Fine slices of wood piled up on my sleeves and bench and my glorious new machine. It was intoxicating. After an hour I stopped and stared down at my wonderful creation, an expensive and lumpy dowel! I was hooked.
Orders for tools and pen parts and wood soon followed, until every flat surface was covered with piles of little treasures, drawers were stuffed with bushings and transmissions, boxes sat on the chairs for lack of space to unpack them. Hours were spent watching wood slowly change shape and beauty emerge from sawn roughness and bottles of finish. I could not stop!
So I'm here to admit my addiction, and to thank the many of you that inspired my madness. I couldn't have done it without you. So rather than just lurking and reading I thought I'd say hello. Pens everywhere! My goodness, this is fun.
- Uncle Mikey
It all started innocently enough, as these things often do. I was browsing through some tool catalogs, looking for some things I wanted to buy, and I kept seeing tiny lathes everywhere. I thought of the turning tools in the garage that I'd picked up years before at garage sales. "No," I thought, "I don't have time to learn how to use a lathe. There's no space left, either." But the pictures kept taunting me, urging me to bring one home and try it out. The gleam of those polished rails, the visions of shavings flying everywhere .....
Alas, I succumbed. Soon a strapped heavy carton appeared on my doorstep. Tentatively, I tore it open, revealing the machinery cradled in its shapely foam. Up onto the bench it went! Parts unwrapped and grease removed, I slowly waxed its shiny metal, gazing upon its ancient form, thinking of the hundreds of years over which it had been perfected. I got out my tools, feeling their handles in my hands in a way I'd never done before. Cautiously, I started up the grinder, and watched the fine sparks shooting from the new blue wheel I'd put on just days before.
Nervously I approached the machine. And I made shavings! Fine slices of wood piled up on my sleeves and bench and my glorious new machine. It was intoxicating. After an hour I stopped and stared down at my wonderful creation, an expensive and lumpy dowel! I was hooked.
Orders for tools and pen parts and wood soon followed, until every flat surface was covered with piles of little treasures, drawers were stuffed with bushings and transmissions, boxes sat on the chairs for lack of space to unpack them. Hours were spent watching wood slowly change shape and beauty emerge from sawn roughness and bottles of finish. I could not stop!
So I'm here to admit my addiction, and to thank the many of you that inspired my madness. I couldn't have done it without you. So rather than just lurking and reading I thought I'd say hello. Pens everywhere! My goodness, this is fun.
- Uncle Mikey
