How long have you been making pens ?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
ldb2000

ldb2000

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
5,381
Location
Laurence Harbor, NJ, USA.
If you have been making pens for LESS then 6 months , have I got a contest for you . The Beginners Beautiful pen contest has been designed for penmakers that have only been at it for a short time . This is your chance to enter a contest where all the other entries are from people with less then 6 MONTHS penmaking experience , you will be on equal ground .
Strut your stuff and show everyone that although you are a noob , you can still make a beautiful pen , and since you are competing against your equals you will have an equal chance of winning a prize , and believe me the prizes are great !!!
Warm up those lathes and get to work , don't let these prizes get away .

Here's the link to the Beginners contest http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=74855
Please read the rules before entering .
Thank you
 
Last edited:
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Certainly less than six months for us! I'll have to run through the pics and see what we can come up with.
 
The contest is open to anyone with 6 months or less penmaking experience but is not for showing past accomplishments . This is a chance to show your best so you really should make a new pen for this contest , surpass your past pens and make a better one . The rewards are worth the effort !!!!
 
I'll have a look...I'm at around 5 months now so I'll ready the rules and see how many we can enter. Thanks for the info
 
terryf said:
My 6 months expired on the 20 Jan - does that mean Im out?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to say yes , I have to draw the line somewhere and since you are honorable and admit your over the limit I'm afraid you are out of the running for the Beginner contest . That don't mean you can't enter the Beautiful pen contest . I've seen your work and you've advanced enough to hold your own in that one . Give it a shot
 
I have been turning for about 5 months now and I'm not sure that some of the work that has been showing up from people that say they are fairly new at pen turning is real.I've been learning all aspects of pen turning specially the finishing techniques and I'm amazed how someone with so little time turning can produce such brilliant work.It takes alot more than 6 months to produce really great work.So that said I'll stay out of the competition this year and next year when my work improves for competition I'll say I only have 4 months turning.This only my 2 cents worth.
 
Papo said:
I have been turning for about 5 months now and I'm not sure that some of the work that has been showing up from people that say they are fairly new at pen turning is real.I've been learning all aspects of pen turning specially the finishing techniques and I'm amazed how someone with so little time turning can produce such brilliant work.It takes alot more than 6 months to produce really great work.So that said I'll stay out of the competition this year and next year when my work improves for competition I'll say I only have 4 months turning.This only my 2 cents worth.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear you say this but I do understand what you are saying . All I can say is that some people catch on faster or have natural talents . A member here , Soligen (Dennis) is one of those people who just seem to have a natural talent for penmaking . He advanced his skills in an amazingly short time to the point where he is now starting to do some very advanced work and he has only been at it since May of last year .
It also has allot to do with attitude and pushing your limits , if you say you can't , you won't . Don't think you can't compete until you have tried .
The beginners contest is judged almost entirely on fit and finish and overall workmanship . The kit used don't matter so if you can build a good looking slimline you stand a chance , and you won't be alone if your pen isn't the fanciest pen ever made at least you've tried .
 
ldb2000 said:
terryf said:
My 6 months expired on the 20 Jan - does that mean Im out?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to say yes , I have to draw the line somewhere and since you are honorable and admit your over the limit I'm afraid you are out of the running for the Beginner contest . That don't mean you can't enter the Beautiful pen contest . I've seen your work and you've advanced enough to hold your own in that one . Give it a shot
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words Butch!:smile:
 
I haven't turned a single pen yet, how's that for a Beginner. I don't think I'll make it in time for this contest though. :frown:

Bought the Lathe, Tools, Sharpening system (wolverine) etc in Dec. everythings still in the boxes. :redface: I have a stock of blanks, and pen kits ready to go the only thing I need is room to set it all up, and start turning.

Still trying to confince SWMBO that her car would be fine sitting in the Driveway. :cool:

Danny
 
jd99 said:
I haven't turned a single pen yet, how's that for a Beginner. I don't think I'll make it in time for this contest though. :frown:

Bought the Lathe, Tools, Sharpening system (wolverine) etc in Dec. everythings still in the boxes. :redface: I have a stock of blanks, and pen kits ready to go the only thing I need is room to set it all up, and start turning.

Still trying to confince SWMBO that her car would be fine sitting in the Driveway. :cool:

Danny
Click to expand...

Hey Danny , you could always tell her that your car is lonely sitting in the driveway by it's self and that if she loves you she should park her car next to yours so it won't feel lonely anymore . You better check with the dog first though , he might not like having company in the dog house :biggrin:
 
There are also a lot of members here that have been turning wood for a long time, but turning pens is a new venture. As Butch said, some have natural abilities or just have turning experience in general. Let's everybody have fun and see what 'turns' up!
:)
 
This is great!
I have watched all the contests start up, and after seeing the photos on this site I kept thinking "I don't stand a chance"!

Now I feel like there is a somewhat level playing field.

I now wish I hadn't turned that crosscut spalted maple blank last weekend!

I'll start thinking about my entry.
 
jd99 said:
Still trying to confince SWMBO that her car would be fine sitting in the Driveway. :cool:

Danny
Click to expand...

I might not have had as much luck convincing my husband of that if I lived in Ontario, but living in Phoenix, the car is in the driveway and we have a BIG workshop!:biggrin:

Sharon
 
:biggrin:If i havent turned a pen in 6 months does that
count as a new turner?:biggrin:

MIke
 
I can tell you great work is possible for some folks with just a few short months. Jonathon (Brooks803) was one of my students who had never worked with a lathe before, and within just a few short months (less than 6) he was trying closed ended pens and making his own acrylic blanks. He does some amazing stuff and I am exceedingly proud of him.

His wife Shea is really good too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom