My question is, Should I:
a) Buy one of the many starter kits for sale that have, mandrel, kits, blanks, bushings, glue, turning tools, etc.
or
b) Piecemeal everything I need to get started making slimline pens to get my feet wet?
c) some other option.
A few things to keep in mind:
1) Bundles are often lesser quality components packaged for convenience.
This convenience is theirs, not yours. It is convenient for them to get rid
of some lower quality items by packaging them with better stuff.
2) Make sure that any 'bundle' includes things that you will use. Include
1 item that you won't use, and chances are that it is no longer a bargain.
3) Cheap tools are only less expensive at first. Once you have to replace
them, you've spent good money for both good tools and for crap.
Buy once, but buy right.
4) Many turners only use 1 tool for pens, be it a skew, spindle gouge,
roughing gouge, bedan etc. No need to go crazy at first. If you want a
skew, get the best one you can. Good tools will hold their value, so if
you change your mind, chances are someone will take it off your hands.
Slimlines are often the kits people start with .. simply because of the price.
But they're NOT the easiest kits to turn well at first.. and because they're
usually sold as budget kits, their finished value isn't as high other kits.
I'd probably start out with something like a Cigar or Sierra kit. A bit more
money, but much more satisfying and forgiving, especially if you are just
starting out. PLUS, they're thicker bodied kits, which allow you more room
to show off your materials. Even a very nice piece of wood can get lost
on a Slimline kit .. it's just too small to show very well.