Welcome from Monroe Michigan. As far as equipment goes, my list is. Lathe, drill press, Carbide turning tool (Woodchuck™), a drilling jig that I made by cutting two opposite 45° slots into a 3" 2X4 with a table saw (to give me a "90° V" groove) mounted on a 1X4, a few clamps, appropriate drill bits and bushings for the kit that I am turning, a barrel trimmer, a #2 Morse Taper mandrel, 160, 220, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 grit wet/dry paper, automotive polishing compound, paper towels, glue, paint, and a carriage bolt that I chuck into my drill press to "press" the pens together. I guess that I use the same tools except the pen vise (homemade jig instead) and the "pen tube insert" ( assuming you are talking about the tool to keep glue off of your fingers, I use latex gloves, or white vinegar if that fails (to remove epoxy). The dealers that advertise on this site are great to deal with, and their prices are typically in line with or sometimes better than "penn industries" if that is the retailer that I think you are referring to (I use them too, and they do have employees that comment on this site from time to time). Slims are a good way to start because you are turning two separate pieces that should have some continuity between them, the single tube pens are nice once you start to get comfortable with turning pens (Penn State Ind has a few nice bundles with an assortment of kits (particularly the 5 pen, 3/8 tube one) with the bit, and bushings included). Hope this helps. KP
