Freedom Pen Project Help (plans falling through)

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Crashmph

Crashmph

Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Messages
1,521
Location
South Riding, VA
Hi all,

Sorry for the mild rant... but I just needed to vent a little.

For the past few years, I have hosted a Pens for Troops/Freedom Pen Project from my home. I teach a few classes at the local Woodcraft, and have been able to borrow a few lathes from the classroom for these events. Provided I turn over the pens to Woodcraft we made at my event, Woodcraft has even supplied the Slim Line kits. Woodcraft would turn the finished pens in with the store's Pens for Troops events held each Veteran's Day weekend.

I have always picked a weekend around their class schedule to prevent conflicts needing to use the lathes. I have planned for October 5th to do this event. I already have people coming that weekend now. Lots of repeat helpers from the past events, and several new people too. There are no lathe classes at the store, but this year, the Woodcraft has declined to allow me to use their equipment.

I do own a few lathes that we have always used, but the borrowed lathes have been a great help to allow more people to turn pens. I understand, it is their equipment, and they have the final say on what happens with it.

I just wish there was another option. I can always buy pen kits my self. They are not that expensive. Pen kits are not a big deal.

The problem is the lack of lathes. I have a Rikon midi and a Delta midi that can be used. I also have a small Shopfox, but it has a broken tailstock. (Still waiting on parts). I usually have my Bealle Buffer setup on the Delta leaving my Rikon plus four lathes from Woodcraft setup. That would give us six lathes to use (seven if the Shopfox parts come in).

We will now be down to either one lathe and one buffer, or two lathes and no buffer. My event for 16 people is not looking to good right now. Looks like we will be canceling it if I cannot borrow a lathe or two or figure something else out.

Are there any Capital Area Woodturners on here that can help me figure this out? I do not want to have to cancel the event or scale it back to just 3-4 people, but I am running out of options.

Again, sorry for the rant... just wanted to get that said.

Michael
 
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The only really reason I got was that they wanted to do all of the pens there at the store so they could get more customers in the store. Problem is... the people that came to my house... they are not woodworkers, nor do they want to invest in hardware to become one. They store is also a hour drive from where my event is hosted. I don't mind the trip to get the lathes as there is always something else for me to buy in the store.
 
How far away is Winchester VA? I just checked Rockler's website and they list McFarland Mills in Winchester VA as an independent resller. Can't tell from their website if they'd have any lathes to help you out but if it's not too far away, can't see that it would hurt to ask either.
 
I guess I can't understand why it isn't held at the Woodcraft Store? I'm surprised they would loan out the equipment in the first place. Is that a corporate store, or privately owned? In my opinion, you should have been extremely grateful for all that help in the past, and let it go. Making them look like the bad guys on the Internet after all that generosity, is not the way to say thank you.
 
I have been an instructor there for several years, and I am also a former employee.

No ill feelings are intended towards them in the first place. I am just frustrated to have to cancel an event several people are looking forward to doing. The store does have an event on Veterans Day weekend, but few of the people at my event are in town to make it. That is what started the alternate date at my house. Additionally, the store is an hour drive from where most of my guest are driving from.

Like I said... No negative feelings to the store or the people in it. Just frustration to cancel the event.
 
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Michael, if conducting your event at the Leesburg Woodcraft store is not an option, which sounds like a good one to me, try contacting the Catoctin Area Turners, they may have some resources that could help.
 
Most of us own lathes :-). What type of pens are you looking for (wood?) style, finish. I will send you 5, please specify. I know that's not the point...but it is about delivering pens to the troops right? If I am off, just let me know. Happy to help though.
 
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