Stuff I Needed to Get Started in Pen Turning
Welcome aboard, you two, from another newbie. Here's the list I used to get started. I bought most of my equipment from Penn State Industries. At the time, they were offering free shipping so I saved a couple hundred bucks.
Mini Lathe
Morse Taper #2 Pen Madrel
60 degree live center (also MT #2)
Set of turning chisels (Minimum: roughing gouge, skew, parting tool. I also highly recommend the PSI Tenon Tool.)
Drill Press (Very important: make sure the table and the chuck are EXACTLY perpendicular to each other, especially if you're going to use it for milling.)
Set of Brad Point Drill Bits (minimum: 7mm, 8mm, 10mm)
Pen Blank Vise (for drilling and milling)
Pen Mill
Pen Press
Brass Tube Insertion Tool
You can find all of the above (and more) here:
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/pen-turning-supplies.html
I also bought a .22 caliber pistol cleaning rod and some cleaning patches. I clean my brass tubes with them right before I start assembling the pens.
Polyurethane Glue (i.e. Gorilla Glue)
Thin CA
Medium CA
Gap Filling CA
Consumables:
Latex Gloves (I'm terrible at using CA, so this helps me avoid sticking various body parts together)
Sand Paper in these grits: 150, 240, 320, 400, 600
0000 Steel Wool for burnishing
EEE-Triple Shine
Mylands High Build Friction Polish
Lots of Paper Towels
Pen Kits of your choice and the madrel bushings they require. The bushings eventually wear down, so get two sets for each style of pen kt you build. That way you don't have to wait for another set in the mail.
Nice to have shop tool: band saw. A table saw will work, but it makes things exciting. Honestly, a miter saw and box will work for you 90% of the time.
If you're going to get into acrylics you'll need some polishing pads and liquid finishing polish.
You can find dozens of videos on YouTube and other websites explaining how to turn pens. Go to Google Video and search for "penturning" or "pen turning" or "making pens" or "pen making." These videos helped my a lot
I highly recommend two books: The Pen Turner Workbook by Barry Gross, and Turning Pens and Pencils by Christensen and Burningham. You can find used version on Half.com.
Eventually, you'll need a way to keep your chisels sharp, so a grinder along with Wolverine's tools will help. But, you can do it by hand if you're careful. Sharp tools make life a LOT easier.
Here are some websites, aside from this one, I found helpful:
pennstateind.com
woodcraft.com
woodturnerscatalog.com
bealltool.com
woodturningz.com
exoticblanks.com
woodnwhimsies.com
rockler.com
grizzly.com
forgottenwoods.net
I'm sure there are lots of other, but the above were helpful to me. In addition, several of the members maintain websites from which they sell pen turning related stuff.
As for pen kits to get started: I purchased 20 of the Designer series from Penn State and kept building them until I got one right. It took me 12 screw ups before I got my first usable pen. Oh, and make sure you order a bag of extra tubes for this kit. It will save you some frustration. Slimlines are less expensive by a few cents, but they don't turn out as good looking as the Designer series. The Designer also add the little "tenon" twist, which is something you need to know anyway.
Good luck.
Let me know if you have any more questions about getting started.
Regards,
t.
2. many times the wood or acrylic will blow out and be destroyed. 
