Were you always into pens?

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Randy Simmons

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
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395
Location
Cary, NC
I know I wasn't. When I was younger I thought that those old guys who had boxes full of dusty old pens were boooooring.

now those guys are the coolest dudes ever, and my friends think I'm insane for going nuts over pens when I'm just 16.

Any other experiences?
 
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No,..

I actually got into Pens by way of my lovely wife.

I got a lathe originally to make turned legs for tables and end tables. I wanted something other than what I had been making. It was a good decision.

I must get a ton of catalogs, most of which go into the circular file without reading. I think PSI, WoodTurningz and Cheaper Than Dirt must have sent me 1/2 of them.

My wife caught eye of the pens and decided they were going to be our next Christmas/Birthday Presents.

I got hooked.
 
I got into pens because I bought a shopsmith and wanted to try turning something. I had not turned since I was in highschool. (31) years prior. I tried a pen and was instantly addicted. I grew up right here on IAP and got help and encouragement along the way. Thanks guys and gals for all the support over the last 2 years.
 
I've had way too many hobbies over the years and all of them cost more than they made me (if they made anything at all). Cars, model railroading, photography, motorcycling, muzzleloading, scuba diving, scale modeling, electronics, singing karaoke, playing drums, Star Trek nerd, Computers, DIY anything, woodworking, and now wood turning and pen making.

That's just some that came to mind in a few minutes. :biggrin:

Cars led to a 12 year stint as an auto mechanic in the mid 70s-mid 90s.
Computers led to my IT career of the past 26 years.
And making pens and bowls have led to a self-supporting hobby that I hope to keep growing over time.

Everything else costs varying amounts and provided varying degrees of fun and memories, but not more.

It's important to follow your heard and do what you feel you are called to do in life. In this way you'll be doing something that interests you and you'll never have a dull moment.

But since you're young and have a long life ahead of you, one "word to the wise" thought I'll leave you with is:
Don't go into debt to have fun. - Save from the earnings of the hard work you do and you'll appreciate the joys following your dream without the ball and chain of bank payments holding you back.

(I'll stop here before I kick into Dave Ramsey mode) Good luck with whatever you feel called to do in life Randy. If that happens to be pens, I hope to see many beautiful postings from you!
 
I would have to say, I've been hooked on pen in a way for a while. When I was in my pre-teens my dad gave me a pretty good quality ball point pen (still have it). It wasn't anything fancy but it opened my eye that a BIC wasn't the only pen. After joining the army and working in the supply room I developed a strong love for a good pen (speaking of which I still owe my Captain a pen). After walking into a "make your own pen" tent at a woodworking convention I was hooked.
 
When a teen ager I developed a love for a good quality ink pen, Fountain pens and rapidographs were the rage. A good friend and I would practice writing with them. I have always liked a "heavier" pen so you know you are holding something.
I got into pen turning when I picked up a metal lathe in a trade. I though about making damascus pens but decided to make wood ones first to learn the basics and never looked back, even turned a few bowls lately.
 
When I retired, my BIL -- an organ builder/cabinet -- maker suggested I get into woodworking to keep me off the streets. My wife stumbled upon Woodcraft ... And the rest is history.
 
I was hooked on woodworking from first day of high school shop class. Spent much of my time after that building anything I could sell or get a request for (small furniture, intarsia, and craft items). Years later, after getting married, my wife being a pen addict, decided I needed to try making pens. I've loved it ever since.
 
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I have done a few things in my life as hobbies - businesses. I collected coins, bred and raised standardbred race horses, operated a vest pocket farm, walked/hiked, did a little model railroading, got into owning and showing an antique car for 14 years, did some hunting and shooting, did a bit of fishing, owned and ocean going boat and did some boating, did some remodeling of a couple of houses, built/still build outdoor furniture, did woodworking making cottage furniture, got into pen making about 6 or 7 years ago.

Some of my hobbies made money - coin collecting I sold my collections for far more than I had in them. Some cost money - breeding horses was expensive as was boating - the $40,000 boat was the down payment. Some didn't make any money or cost much like walking and hiking. Some parts of farming were business and some (raising a breeding holstein bull and keeping some exotic chickens, for instance) parts were hobby.
Remodeling the houses was fun and made a little money and building my own small cabin was fun and cost a little....

Making pens has been a cost, because I don't sell very many of them and don't want to..When I get to make a pen now it is fun to do..Collecting pens, so far has been a cost mostly because of buying of items at the IAP auction to support the forum, but the cost is somewhat offset by selling the kits. I suspect I could sell the individual pens in my collection for something more than I have in them but wouldn't get rich. I always like having a nice pen.
 
It is so hard when our wives make us do something like this. :biggrin: How can you go on!:biggrin: It is a very good thing you are so strong and can continue to carry on.


JohnU said:
I was hooked on woodworking from first day of high school shop class. Spent much of my time after that building anything I could sell or get a request for (small furniture, intarsia, and craft items). Years later, after getting married, my wife being a pen addict, decided I needed to try making pens. I've loved it ever since.
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76winger said:
edicehouse said:
I started because I wanted to do chess pieces, but guess I never moved on
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In a similar vein for penturning, I started out wanting to turn bowls & vessels. So far I've done 6 bowls, 2 vessels and well over 300 pens. :rolleyes:
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Me, I needed a lathe to turn custom cork handles for fishing rods, and the used lathe I bought came with pen making supplies. Fishing rod handles zero, pens 20 and counting...
 
During my forty-five years in the financial industry, writing reviews, loan proposals, audits etc. I was attracted to the best writing instruments. After leaving I needed an excuse to keep writing and took one little class at Woodcraft, hooking me. Bought a lathe, wore it out, and bought another. Cannot say how many pens have been sold and am now cultivating a following of fountain pen enthusiasts. Show at two galleries and attend shows throughout the year. Profitable? Yes. My goal is to buy back an SSR eventually but that is a remote possibility.
 
dwarmbrodt said:
Me, I needed a lathe to turn custom cork handles for fishing rods, and the used lathe I bought came with pen making supplies. Fishing rod handles zero, pens 20 and counting...
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LOL... that sounds familiar. I wanted to do reel seats for fly rods. Hadn't done any woodturning since shop class in HS 35 years ago. I collect fountain pens (Pelikans are my favorites). So thought I'd turn some pens.

That was 2 years ago. Same story feel seats zero, pens around 30+
 
Never touched a lathe in my life until 4 years ago. My wife bought me a mini lathe for Christmas; I looked at her with that "what do I do with this" look. She said start with pens and work up from there. Naturally I got hooked and she got me out of her hair :rolleyes:
 
I have been into woodworking since high school (20 years ago). Mainly furniture and cabinets. I did a military transfer and my garage got down sized to a one car. I found it very difficult to build sizable piecesof furniture, so my projects got smaller. I was looking on youtube for a jig to complete one of my projects and come across turning pens. At that moment, I had to try my hand at pen making even though i never touched a lathe before. That was about 4 years ago and still love it. Haven't really built much else in my garage since. Just my story.

Dave
 
Before I hurt my back 5 yrs ago, any old pen would do for me. After a few months of being under the wifes' skirt tails, she said get a hobby. Bought a cheap lathe to turn bowls and the like. I was on a wood forum and saw a pen posted by Les in Alberta. I said, who wants to make a pen? What does it take, 20 minutes? A small Shop Fox later and I was hooked. A Jet and a Grizzly later it has become a addicting "hobby". I too spend most of my time segmenting and experimenting.

Yes, money can be made doing this but it's hard work and rarely falls in you lap.
 
I have had motorcycles (up to three at a time), then saltwater reef aquariums for several years, now pens and overall woodworking. The one constant factor has been avid collection of tools... One day I'll have them all.

Amazingly, pen turning is less expensive than reef tanks.
 
healeydays said:
Funny thing is I'm more into making the blanks than the pens at times.

Something must be wrong with me...
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Then I guess something must be wrong with me too. Lol. Selling blanks allows me to give my pens away for fund raisers and family without worrying about how much it cost me. It helps keep it fun. Now I say, "that cost me 3 blanks to make". :)
 
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Began to like pens when my dad let me use his Waterman FP and Pencil set back when i was about 8 or 10 years old. Later he gave me the set, which I still have.
In 1964, I started making custom fishing rods. I gave away most, just liked to see the smile on the recipient's faces. I gave that up about 5-7 years ago after a saw accident while cutting wood jig pieces for a project.
Figured I needed something a tad bit less stressful. My wife and daughter pointed me in the direction of pens. I did sell a few in the beginning-about 200-250 total, but fell back to just giving them away because I could make what I liked and enjoy what I was doing more. I'm beginning to get more into making my own blanks. Sorry about the ramble.

Russ
 
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