Our own penturning "magazine"

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
B

biednick

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2010
Messages
333
Location
Hamilton, Ohio
Well with 4 hours of sleep last nght, I dont know how much sense this will make, but what if we, the members of IAP, started our own publcation? I'm thinking just a 50 page or so PDF that can have articals covering all kind sof stuff to give people new ideas, maybe some small tutorials, useful stuff that dosn't really belng in the library. We could have a section of tips fr newbies, a bit of intermidiate stuff, and maybe some advanced/kitless stuff in it. Maybe just quaterly to start. I'm willing to do the heavy lifting at first, but i would need articals. So what do we think, go or no go? Ive seen a lot of stuff posted here that are great and I think should be saved, but dont really belong in the library, so I think we should give it a home.
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Books and mags have been brought up before. Never get very far. Id support a mag before a book.

There is a way to publish to the web, i can track down the site if youd like. I get several mags from them, allows the first 5 pages to be seen but you have to buy to get the rest.
 
I would be all for it. It could have a showcase section, hints and tips, what's new, featured penmaker, plus, I'm sure we would get enough ads to support the cost.

I would volunteer for a role in the process
 
Well, my thought for the begining is juat a simpler PDF/web publication, thats about all the farther I personaly can take this, if it goes well and takes off, I'll hand it over to someone else. From the prior disscussons I have seen, one issue seems to be no one person has put it all together. Assuming there is interest, I can do my best to get this started.
 
As Mike said, it's been brought up many times before, but that doesn't mean we can't discuss it!

TomW is our library manager, so I hope he chimes in!

I've always been open to consolidating good threads and discussions into some reference material. We have never really had a penturning FAQ or Tips & Tricks section, and I'd like to see both. When I put the Wiki up, I had a dream that it would serve those purposes.

The Pen Shop had a magazine (digital only) for a while, but it seemed to eventually become 10 pages of ads and 5 pages of content.

We talked about a "Penturning Annual" here once upon a time, and that seemed to be a good idea, but that's a HUGE undertaking, and I don't believe we ever got the critical mass to get it done. We also discussed writing a book for a time, and that similarly didn't get enough volunteer effort behind it.
 
Believe me, I am not nixing the idea, just trying to understand.
Is there anything you could put in a PDF that you can't put here on this site? Perhaps some reorganization is all you need. If you are saying lets nest some great information that we already have here into a presentation for ease of reading, can we do it here rather than start something else? I have a hard time absorbing all the input that is supplied to us as it is.
 
Glenn McCullough said:
Believe me, I am not nixing the idea, just trying to understand.
Is there anything you could put in a PDF that you can't put here on this site? Perhaps some reorganization is all you need. If you are saying lets nest some great information that we already have here into a presentation for ease of reading, can we do it here rather than start something else? I have a hard time absorbing all the input that is supplied to us as it is.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying. The PDF idea was a way that this could be done, would be, I believe, easier, and its free so we can gauge interest. later on, who knows. Maybe we will have a full blown magazine years from now. In the relatively short time I have been a member, I have seen a large amount of very useful information get posted, "Mini tutorials" so to speak that seems to get "lost". Things that are too small to make it into the library. Part of what I want to do is make a way to keep track of all those little things, and also pull in some larger stuff. I feel that there's a big difference between tutorials and magazine articals on the same thing, and both have a place. I want a way to kind of pull them all together in a way that can change over time. This is just my thought, I am open to others advice.
 
Of course, I would support any efforts to put something like this together! I would even donate an article or two.

Scott.
 
We can discuss tipping waitresses in it, and get someone else to contribute. (JK)

It sounds like a great idea, but wow an undertaking that would be huge. The only suggestion I could possibly offer is do it at the most 4 times a year. That way there is a collection.
 
I use a program called PagePlus to publish ebooks and emags everyonce in a while, you can even use it to publish to kindle if you want. I also use it to make catalogs for my online catalog sites.

No I'm no volunteering, I got enough on my plate. :wink: Just a suggestion of a program to use.
 
Last edited:
Okay, it seems most people are all for it, so I geuss I can start putting something together. Thanks for the input everyone, I hope this becomes what I think we all invision it being.
 
I think the magazine idea is a good one. I enjoy reading articles regarding our work and peoples different ideas.

I agree that there is a lot of small posts with incredibly tips that seem to get lost. It would be great to bring these together in a small tip section. Articles from some of our more experienced colleagues. I know there are lots of articles in the library, but an article in a magazine in which the reader follows along through the process is different. How many of us have read an article about something we already know, but just enjoy seeing it from the authors perspective. I know I do this all the time, and usually end up learning something.

It would be nice to read about some of our members as well. Perhaps an article about Mike recent acceptance into the pen makers guild. Maybe even an article about what is going on in the world of pens. You could even have a calendar section of upcoming pen events, as well as articles on the event afterwards.

There are lots of possibilities, but it will take a lot of organizing and planning. To have a good set up, you can't just call for articles and slap them together in a PDF. You need to plan what you want to present and what sections you want in the magazine (Editorial, Tips, How to, Featured member/artist, etc). Then sort through the articles you receive for the one to go in that issue of the magazine. Hopefully you will have many to choose from, which means you will have articles for future issues.

While I do not have the time to work on the organization, I would not mind writing an article or two.

I look forward to seeing what happens with this and hopefully to reading the quarterly "IAP Review"
 
Yes, this idea came up several years ago.
While it seems like a good idea there are problems when facing reality.
Starting a publication and keeping it going are two different things.
The ideas and articles can run dry very quickly.
Who will be your contributors? Frankly, what is seen on most forums, IAP is not alone, there is a dearth of people with the writing skills for a magazine.
If it starts, I will be happy to contribute but I will not spend energy in helping with publication. Negative attitude? No, just realistic.
 
I think it would be a good idea, and would support the effort in anyway I could. I have some experience in writing articles , teaching woodworking and producing tutorials .
 
Seems like when someone posts a new modification of a new bit of tech, it might be worh asking them to do walkthrough of it for such a publication. Could help slow the drying up of the articles. I kind of see it becoming #1 a showcase for some of our better craftsmen, and #2 a consolidation of all of the mini-tutorials that pop up whenever something new (or an old one come back around) is brought to the table.
 
Since the IAP is essentially the largest group of penturners in the world, why not publish a book. "The Penturners Bible" covering everything that the IAP has to offer. Everyone who has already contributed to this great site has already done their bit to add to such a publication. There are many books out there I know, but they just touch on kit pens, the processes involved and different materials. They don't cover casting, going kitless, segmenting (scallops and herringbone) and such. I know it would have to be a large book to cover all the topics and tutorials that are already here.
 
keithkarl2007 said:
Since the IAP is essentially the largest group of penturners in the world, why not publish a book. "The Penturners Bible" covering everything that the IAP has to offer. Everyone who has already contributed to this great site has already done their bit to add to such a publication. There are many books out there I know, but they just touch on kit pens, the processes involved and different materials. They don't cover casting, going kitless, segmenting (scallops and herringbone) and such. I know it would have to be a large book to cover all the topics and tutorials that are already here.
Click to expand...

I think the issue you might encounter stems from SO MANY new ideas and new methods being brought out on here that the book would be outdated absurdly fast. Probably be kinda obsolete before it even finished printing. Not saying it's a bad idea, but it would be tough to get it right and not have all of the information in need of an update almost immediately.
 
I vote for the PDF

Penturners All,

I for one think this is great.

I might point out that in Scrollsaw Woodworks and Crafts magazine, they feature the same article in every issue on the very fundamentals of scroll sawing.

What does one or two pages really cost when the purpose of the magazine is to expand it's readership and educate the wood be newcomer to the hobby.

There are literally tons of innovative ideas, methods, styles and equipment out there to write about, and review.

Charlie
 
Rifleman1776 said:
YFrankly, what is seen on most forums, IAP is not alone, there is a dearth of people with the writing skills for a magazine.
Click to expand...

That's ok .. the longer texting goes on, the more we have a dearth
of people with the reading skills for a magazine! :tongue:

I've been putting off an article on Drilling/Squaring/Milling Blanks for a
while now.. kept meaning to get to it just because it might be a good
thing for the library. Maybe this is a good excuse to finally get it done.
 
CHARLES STOPCZYNSKI said:
I might point out that in Scrollsaw Woodworks and Crafts magazine, they feature the same article in every issue on the very fundamentals of scroll sawing.
Click to expand...

They're not alone. This is a problem for any type of magazine like this..
I used to write technical articles for a quarterly magazine and in one
meeting alone I came up with three years worth of material to write up.
But it quickly sunk in that there is a large turnover in readership and you
can't write articles that leave out the 'new' people.. they're the ones
most likely to need them. So.. rather than writing on 12-15 subjects a
year, I mostly ended up recycling the same types of material over many
issues and many years. The running joke was "Ok, whose turn is it to
write the E-70 article for the next issue?"

Fundamentals are necessary and help to bring in new readers. The trick
is to do it in such a way that you don't bore the 'old hands' and also
include material for the more experienced people in such a way that you
don't intimidate the new people. takes a good editor..
 
keithkarl2007 said:
Since the IAP is essentially the largest group of penturners in the world, why not publish a book. "The Penturners Bible" covering everything that the IAP has to offer..
Click to expand...

"The Pen Turner's Bible" is already taken: Amazon.com: The Pen Turner's Bible: The Art of Creating Custom Pens (9780941936613): Richard Kleinhenz: Books


keithkarl2007 said:
Everyone who has already contributed to this great site has already done their bit to add to such a publication
Click to expand...
Maybe some who have contributed to the IAP would not want their work published elsewhere.

Do a good turn daily!
Don
 
Here's my $0.23. From my experience, this is a MASSIVE undertaking. I'd say, to put out a 50 page "magazine", once a quarter, with new content, would take hundreds if not thousands of (volunteer) man hours. Although IAP people are "abnormal...", we still have lots of "consumers" and very few "contributors". In this context "contributor" is a person who will write an understandable tutorial, and donate it, along with good pictures in publishable format. It's just not that easy.

The fact that the IAP Wiki has not flourished should indicate what we are up against.

Now, if we do make a stab at this, I will pledge to do whatever I can to make it happen, including making a spot in the library for the current issue and the archive, and help potential authors with their contribution.

Now, if somebody wants to help generate content for the Library (including running with the "meet the members" section), just let me know!

Tom
 
How about partnering with Woodturning Design magazine?

They've shown interest in the IAP by hosting the 'best of IAP' contest last year and are doing it again this year.

See here for details http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/best-iap-contest-2012-a-99072/

Maybe Scott could be contacted and asked about type of content they'd be interested in and how much space they'd like filled.

If they're game Jeff (as this is his baby) should organize a team responsible for the content.

Just my 2¢
AK
 
I think a podcast would be a good idea, with audio episodes for tips and tricks, vendor reviews, and just plain penturning talk (like wood talk online). And video episodes for tutorials on turning, casting, modifying kits, and stuff like that.
Just my .002% of $1000.
 
While a book or a magazine, or even podcasts or blogs, would be nice, what this all comes down to is that the perfect media for the huge and varied subject matter we're looking at, is what we already have. This website, free for everyone, packed with more information than would fit in ten books, is at this time the optimum method of sharing pen turning with the world. And as frosting on the cake, we have grown ourselves a wonderful community of friends in the process.

I'm not saying we shouldn't do a magazine. But the real gem is already here. What might be nice is if we were to offer an IAP Digest for Woodturning Design magazine. But like I said, I would support whatever you all want to do.

Scott.
 
I think it would be neat. One of the things that frustrated me when I started turning about 3 months ago, was all the technical lingo. I realize that every hobby has its own lingo, but there didn't seem to be a simple, concise article that explained what everything meant. I think that would be helpful for new turners. I may have missed the article that had all the definitions, but eventually I figured it out.
 
I should have a bit more time on my hands in the near future. My turning skills can defiantly use improving, I can submit an article or two on electrical problems. I have read many ideas and mini tutorials that have been lost to time in the pages here. I am sure more are just about to be published.
We would have to provide beginner info, much of which the advanced turners on site have forgotten about as it all comes automatically to hand today. How to lay a skew to the wood, what riding the bevel actually means with picts, how to be sure which foot the yellow sock goes on and what song to humm while applying the CA. Heck with all that has been written about all that here in the short time I have been onsite would fill many volumes.

If I can help with filler stock, I would be happy to work with anyone running the project, however, it is going to take someone dedicated to keep it going, even if only twice or four times a year. Just my $0.05 (inflation) worth.
Charles
 
The old forum The Pen Shop used to have a monthly newsletter and it was good. It had advertisements from vendors, an article featuring one member, who wrote the article about him or her self and then an article about some facet of penturning. It was only about 5-7 pages long. I looked forward to it every month and I am sure that other members did also. This type of format is easier to put together then a large magazine.
 
Not mentioned yet.....$$$$$$$$$$
Who is going to pay for such an idea?
Not only who, but how?
It would have to be capitalized up front then supported with advertising.
Advertising? OK, now you have to solicit the ads and have record keeping, etc.
The idea is nice but, IMHO, not workable.
A montly, or even quartely publication would almost eliminate the need for this forum. I see this forum as a publication that is living and dynamic and updated constantly. It doesn't get better than this.
An annual publication might work. There are many such publications. One for custom knife makers comes to mind.
 
Jarod888 said:
I think it would be neat. One of the things that frustrated me when I started turning about 3 months ago, was all the technical lingo. I realize that every hobby has its own lingo, but there didn't seem to be a simple, concise article that explained what everything meant. I think that would be helpful for new turners. I may have missed the article that had all the definitions, but eventually I figured it out.
Click to expand...

I posted a thread back in 2009 that was turned into a PDF and used for a while.

Thread: http://www.penturners.org/forum/f14/beginner-what-do-i-need-41005/

PDF: http://content.penturners.org/library/general_reference/Getting_started_in_pen_turning.pdf

ON this one, I was asked to update it, but suggestions were very vague without any direct suggestions so I did not know which way to go. Just left it as it was.

But even better than those here is the library link to much more and updated:

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f139/iap-library-penturning-101-start-here-90772/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom