It looks like you got a lot done though.:biggrin: Making mistakes is expected. If you've discovered what mistake you made and, how to correct it, that's good. Know what you're going to do BEFORE you do it. If you have a doubt, there are plenty of answers here. Just a thought and, I've nothing else to do at this moment. Keep at it Lauren.
Mistakes will be made! I have a whole drawer full of mistakes. I keep thinking maybe someday I will find a use for them. If nothing else they are a reminder.
I'm now at 5 sections destroyed with the current pen I'm working on. I get down to final shaping and it cracks at the threads. These were all with PR, so maybe that's the reason. I've backed up and now I'm making a better "holder" for the section.
I may be crazy and twisted, but I'm at pretty much the same point as you, and I am actually enjoying it! I can't wait until I start producing some nice custom pens, but right now I enjoy messing up yet another cheap blank. Actually, the more I think about it, it might have something to do with the "using a new tool" feeling I'm getting from my metal lathe! :biggrin:
Reminds me of the old saying "You have to hear 99 nos for every yes" (referring to sales). So I look at my failures as one less "no", and a step foreward. Yes I do have to remind myself of that when I spend a lot of time on a project and it fails. I actually have a place in my shop I put some of my mistakes to remind my self how far I have progressed.