brailsmt
Member
I turned my first pen on December 2nd, 2018 at a pen turning class at the local Woodcraft. That day I ordered my own little midi lathe. I've been watching YouTube turning videos for about the last 6 months. My goal is to build a full woodworking shop, but that isn't this post. For a little background without too much detail, I have suffered from depression for years, and after a nasty divorce it got much worse. Nothing has seemed to help for damn near a decade, until now. I have probably 40 pens sitting on my kitchen table now. I make a few pens a day, and I'm still struggling to perfect everything from fit to finish, but I find this hobby so enjoyable and relaxing. As I sit at the lathe sanding, I think. I work through ideas and just process stuff, but while being productive, instead of playing some dumb video game. My 19 year old daughter told me last night that I'm like a new person since I started turning. This forum has been helpful with tips on how to improve my pens. I'm always looking to be better, and will not be 100% satisfied with my pens until they are perfect in every way, but along the way it has completely changed my outlook on life. Anyway, as I sit and wait for 8am to roll around so I can start some new pens (apartment living sucks), I wanted to just pop in and share that this hobby has been absolutely transformative.