Slump!

[chiefgreen]

As anyone ever gotten in a slump with their pen making?

I am! However, like in baseball, I need to continue to try. I will start "hitting" again.

Maybe it's the weather! So humid here the last few days, to get a drink of water all you need to do is open your mouth and swallow. :biggrin:

 

[Dalecamino]

I've done that too but,couldn't blame it on the weather. Talked to a guy in Ft. Meyers yesterday and, he said he was trying not to melt into his shoes

 

[jimm1]

Oh yeah. I owe on my PITH and another trade. I made many pens for them, but I just wasn't happy with them. I have done better work. So to my trade partners, I am sorry I am so late, but I certainly don't want to send something that I am not happy with.

 

[kevrob]

I am in the same boat Steve. I can't seem to finish a pen recently. Although I am a newbie, my first 20 minutes seemed like a piece of cake compared to what I have been doing recently. I either blow out the blank or chip/crack the darn thing as I am putting it to together (currently using a rubber mallet to put together pens, but due to my issues recently I have a pen press on its way).

 

[DCBluesman]

Slumps happen. Find a "hitting" instructor and go back to basics for a few pens. My favorite site, and I still re-read it from time-to-time, is www.woodturnerruss.com .

 

[ThomJ]

Doctor induced slump here. still have another week before he will consider letting me stand up that long.

 

[Ligget]

I get slumps regularly, have a look through the member galleries and that usually gives you a little motivation to get busy again!

 

[arioux]

Slumps happen. Find a "hitting" instructor and go back to basics for a few pens. My favorite site, and I still re-read it from time-to-time, is www.woodturnerruss.com .

That's the site that started it all for me. Always like to go back there once in a while.

 

[DurocShark]

I'm in a CA finish slump. Can't make it work to save my life. I'm chalking it up to the reduced humidity of the fall weather.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[tim self]

Have been in one before and it's no fun! Mine for now is no parts but pain sometimes rules the schedule. Now is not the time for me to be in a slump.

Get a coach and start hitting again.

 

[sgimbel]

I just read Russ Turners info and it's really interesting. Time to slow down the lathe when sanding.

 

[ldb2000]

I've been flamed for saying this before but here goes anyway . Try something that challenges you . I get into a slump anytime the projects get too easy and repetitive , I need the challenge to get my creative juices flowing , something that makes me think .

 

[DurocShark]

I don't understand why you would be flamed Butch, you're absolutely right!

 

[ldb2000]

I don't understand it either , but it has happened on more then one occation .

 

[glycerine]

I've been in a slump, but just because I have been busy with other things. Been building a jewelry box for my wife, and busy with work and other things. I try to visit the IAP often though. I'll get back to it some day soon. As a matter of fact, I need to get my PITH pen done!

 

[BuffaloBill]

Hey Man,

I've been in the Pen slump before. Funny thing got me out of it. I had bought a DVD on Pen turning and I decided to watch it. THen I'm like this is good stuff, but I'd rather be turning now then watching this guy turn! That was all I needed. Couldnt stand to watch someone else do when I could be doing it myself.

Good Luck!
Bill

 

[mick]

I've been flamed for saying this before but here goes anyway . Try something that challenges you . I get into a slump anytime the projects get too easy and repetitive , I need the challenge to get my creative juices flowing , something that makes me think .

I experience a slump from time to time for a lot of the same reasons as Butch. Since we do so many shows I'm always building up my inventory...gets boring just turning same old pens all the time.
To help get out of a slump I'll take a day or two , build segmented blanks, work on something different, clean the shop or do some casting.
I have a bad habit of turning a bunch of pens at once and since I let my CA cure until the next day....I come into the shop facing a bunch of pens to sand and buff. That can be daunting to say the least. I just got through buffing 6 I did yesterday....had to make myself get em all done!
Now I'll turn a bunch tonight...but they'll be resins and plastics. Instant gratification!
Tomorrow I'll clean the shop and build some blanks to mix things up.

 

[DurocShark]

Hey Man,

I've been in the Pen slump before. Funny thing got me out of it. I had bought a DVD on Pen turning and I decided to watch it. THen I'm like this is good stuff, but I'd rather be turning now then watching this guy turn! That was all I needed. Couldnt stand to watch someone else do when I could be doing it myself.

Good Luck!
Bill

Hah! That's awesome!

 

[Displaced Canadian]

WHAT. Butch is saying try something new and challenging? GET THE TORCHES, :biggrin: Last time I was in a slump I would find myself going to my shop and just sitting on my work bench. For me the first thing I do to get out of it is... Clean my shop, it gets the grey cells working. Then as butch said I try something new usually an idea that has been rattling around in my head for several months. Even if the idea explodes into tiny pieces all over your nice clean shop it seems to motivate you. Works for me.

 

[Crickett]

When I'm in a slump and start cleaning the shop I usually come across an interesting blank I put off to the side for safe keeping and turn it, unfortunately the shop ends up staying messy.

 

[cnccutter]

I find that the days I don't have to stare at the lathe alone I am in a much better frame of mind. I get a kick out of having someone once in a while in the shop to bounce ideas off of and try to one up. there's nothing worse than a lone day and the drone of the lathe for hours. new ideas breed a fresh mind like Butch says.

Erik

 

[rjwolfe3]

This is so true I actually get more done when my wife is working with me.

I find that the days I don't have to stare at the lathe alone I am in a much better frame of mind. I get a kick out of having someone once in a while in the shop to bounce ideas off of and try to one up. there's nothing worse than a lone day and the drone of the lathe for hours. new ideas breed a fresh mind like Butch says.

Erik

 

[penmanship]

Hi Steve ~ I thought I was the only 1 who occasionally lost his pen "mojo". I was in a pen "funk" for the past 2 months, and I have just re-discovered my pen mojo.....I couldn't believe I just didn't want to make a pen?!? I'm now knocking them out a few a week. I tidied the shop, found some nice old blanks, and found a few new one's too ........bibiddy, bobiddy, boop, I'm back into making pens.

tim

 

[mywoodshopca]

I took the summer off too, besides being busy with summer activies, camping, etc , I had a messy shop that it was too hot to clean that discouraged me from turning. Ordered a small lathe (harbor freight) to help me a bit with my getting back into it since my old one is starting to wear out.

Currently building a 5x10 wood CNC router setup in one side of the shop, then all my regular construction tools in the middle and pen stuff at the other end.