scrofts1219
Member
I'm approaching my fifth anniversary of this crazy penturning hobby. I've gone through a lot of agony getting to where I could consistently turn a good quality pen. I was cleaning up my shop a little last night and I started thinking about some of the major changes I made from day one to now that actually made a significant difference in consistency. I'm sure others will have similar items, but for me these were the five that made a big difference. For reference, I started using carbide tools so I don't know a thing about the "old school tools you have to sharpen."
1. CA glue needs to be fresh. It goes bad and sneaks up on you. I live in TX and leaving it in a warm shop during the summer shortens the shelf life. Trust me, it does. I have a little plastic tote and I bring all my CA glue into the house (laundry room) when I'm not be going to be turning pens. It has made a BIG difference in finish consistency.
2. MicroMesh pads get worn out and you don't realize it. I replace mine quite often--don't really know what kind of a rule to use because everyone turns different volumes of pens. Always use wet, never dry, and keep them clean and fresh.
3. Turn between centers. I don't know who came up with that idea and solution, but it's great! Sure, it's a hassle if you like to turn two blanks at the same time, but relax and enjoy the journey.
4. Dump regular sandpaper. I feel the same about Abranet sanding sheets as I do about TBC. Wonderful stuff (an understatement). Completely changed the quality of blank sanding and finishing.
5. Figure out a way to keep everything organized in a way that feels good. Not everyone is the same, but find what really works for you. There are a lot of little pieces, tools and components. Being organized makes everything a lot more enjoyable.
Bonus. Remember it's a hobby for most of us. Don't worry about making a lot of money or you'll be disappointed. Most people don't have their hobby to make money. We can offset some costs once in a while, but it's best just to enjoy the smiles on people's faces when you give them a beautiful gift--preferably in a gift box.
1. CA glue needs to be fresh. It goes bad and sneaks up on you. I live in TX and leaving it in a warm shop during the summer shortens the shelf life. Trust me, it does. I have a little plastic tote and I bring all my CA glue into the house (laundry room) when I'm not be going to be turning pens. It has made a BIG difference in finish consistency.
2. MicroMesh pads get worn out and you don't realize it. I replace mine quite often--don't really know what kind of a rule to use because everyone turns different volumes of pens. Always use wet, never dry, and keep them clean and fresh.
3. Turn between centers. I don't know who came up with that idea and solution, but it's great! Sure, it's a hassle if you like to turn two blanks at the same time, but relax and enjoy the journey.
4. Dump regular sandpaper. I feel the same about Abranet sanding sheets as I do about TBC. Wonderful stuff (an understatement). Completely changed the quality of blank sanding and finishing.
5. Figure out a way to keep everything organized in a way that feels good. Not everyone is the same, but find what really works for you. There are a lot of little pieces, tools and components. Being organized makes everything a lot more enjoyable.
Bonus. Remember it's a hobby for most of us. Don't worry about making a lot of money or you'll be disappointed. Most people don't have their hobby to make money. We can offset some costs once in a while, but it's best just to enjoy the smiles on people's faces when you give them a beautiful gift--preferably in a gift box.
