Getting Started Forum

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jeff

jeff

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In a few days, we're going to be opening a new forum section: "Getting Started" We get many new members daily, and I often get questions about how to get started. It would be great to have a single place to point people to. Much (most?, all?) of this information is here somewhere -- making it easily available to people is the goal.

The idea behind this is to identify the basic equipment, tools, supplies, and skills needed for specific aspects of penmaking. An "aspect" would be some part of the craft that requires (or highly recommended) some specialized equipment or techniques. Topic areas might include:
  • Kit Penmaking
  • Segmenting
  • Stabilizing
  • Casting
  • Turning Between Centers
  • Kitless Penmaking
  • Specialized Finishes
  • etc...
Of course there are differences of opinion in all of these areas, so we'll need someone to curate the information in each area. How we gather and organize the information might vary by topic area. Could be paragraphs of information, photographs, recommended sources, links to other information here or elsewhere (books, videos, tutorials). Probably a sticky post for each topic. Questions would be encouraged in that forum. Over time, the answers to questions would be incorporated into the sticky posts. Sort of a continuously evolving resource.

Can we have some discussion about this?

Good idea?
Where are the unforeseen problems with this idea?
I already have one person willing to help. How about you?
What other topic areas should be included?

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
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Even before most of the above topics come up . . .

Common questions are which kit(s) to start with, the required tools, what materials to start with, and associated finishing
 
I think a dedicated forum for this is a great idea. There is a lot of good starter info in the library that should probably be linked to the forum - especially Hank Lee's tutorial on "Getting Started in pen Turning".

The entire Pen Turning 101 category in the library is a good start.
 
Yes, good idea, Jeff.
My problem when getting started was finding my way around the site itself ( me not being very computer savvy )
There are still some wee dark corners that I havent fully explored.
The library is a great starting place, though I still don't know how to browse without having to download everything that takes my interest.
 
First and foremost, this really needs to be said: Thanks for being proactive and constantly looking at ways to improve the site. It's fantastic as it is, but I suspect that is due to the efforts of yourself and the admins to bring it to where it is today, along with input from the active and long time members. To all of you, your hard work and diligence are noted and appreciated!

On the topic...
I think it's a great idea. You mention some advanced techniques also. When I think of getting started, I think about people that are absolutely new to pen turning. It might be useful to have sub forums dedicated to the topics of segmenting, casting, kitless, etc. As you noted, stickies with resource links would be useful to each one respectively. Not only would the stickies evolve over time, but the forum sections and structure certainly would sort itself out.

My concerns would be having some of these getting mixed up with existing forums. Blank making, for example, already has segmenting and casting sub forums. I suspect they might get intertwined in the same manner as the SOYP and kitless recently have, and yet another sub forum on kitless... hmm.
 
Maybe Getting Started should be a place where those type of questions should be archived? I see a potential "change of behavior" challenge. That doesn't mean that it is not a great idea.
 
Jeff I am on the fence about this topic because basically what you described is the whole concept of this entire forum. We have broken down the specific forums for just about all aspects of pen turning. You would need to sticky just about every thread posted. Yes the biggest questions that get asked from newbies is
How to get started?
What tools are needed along with what lathes?
What kits are being used and where to get them?
What materials are used to make segmented blanks?
What finishes are the best and how to do a CA finish?
How to start selling?
This is just a few. But they are all discussed under the proper forums or at least try to. Again many of the technical issues you listed are brought up in the forum where they belong. It gets discussed many times there and yes many times links to other threads are supplied. How do you combine all that in one forum?

Now I hope this does not come off as jerky because we live in a society where feelings get hurt so easily and thus a trophy for everyone attitude has emerged. But what I see many times is newbies come here and want answers right away and fast. When I joined I did not join right away. I followed the site for a few months before I joined so I saw the 2004 emergence of this site from afar. But even when I joined I read all threads and watched as this place started to catch on and grow. Then I started asking questions and getting involved. Different times for sure.

I guess my point is a piggyback one that has been said already and that is a forum to help beginners find their way around more easily and make suggestions about how to find answers but also not discourage them from being a part of this great place. I see and I try myself many times to encourage new members to stick around and take a look around this site on the introductory pages. I know this is not an easy thing. But with that said the membership matters so I will support any effort you put into this and thank you for keeping the lights on here. Good luck.
 
As a newer member, I can see this as being very useful.
As stated, the information could probably be found, under various forums, and can be informative trying to find the specific information, since it seems to always lead to something else not related to the initial search. But at the same time, it becomes a little daunting trying to find some of the information, not only because the aforementioned going of track, but also because a lot of the intended search, is buried deep down, sometimes many pages.

Having one place, that gives everything absolutely required to start in that place, would potentially increase activity.
Some individuals are discouraged, when the information is difficult to locate, and are also embarrassed to ask (knowing the reputation of the majority of web sites and new people) for the guidance to information, so they give up.

Having one spot to get started, could get more people to engage, by asking about actually making a pen, now that they have the information on requirements to make the pen. The long standing members already know the information that gets asked, and isn't a problem for them, but to a new person just starting, this is intimidating...

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This, of course, is JMO.

Edit:
This is an example. Go to this website, and realize how lost you are, and maybe feel the intimidation, and reluctance to ask a question.

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