Long way to go, but HUGE progress for me...

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

Flintski22

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2025
Messages
30
Location
USA
I've been continuing to delve more and more into the world of pen turning. Recently I took a leap and bought my very own midi lathe, so now I can turn from home and not just at school. I got everything I need to pen turn completely from home.

I also started selling custom pen designs as a way to help offset the cost of my midi lathe, and I'm having some small but growing success with that. I've loved getting to make pens for neighbors, friends, and family.

I've made 11 pens total now and I feel like I'm learning more and more with each pen as well as getting more efficient at making them. I'm also way more comfortable messing with a little bit of blank segmenting, which has given me some pretty sick pens. I know that 11 is a tiny number compared to how many pens most of you have made, but I'm proud of it because I've come so far from where I started. I still have such a long ways to go, but I'm happy cuz I'm making big progress.

I've been getting all my pen kits from crooked mill woodworking because they sell good kits at really affordable prices, but I'm looking for other places to buy pens from. Today I've been browsing penn state industries and exotic blanks, but other than that where would you guys suggest getting kits from?

Also, does anyone have any cool but simple segmenting designs? If so please share cuz I'm looking for more ways to make cool shapes with segmenting. I can only do fairly simple designs though because I do all my sawing with a small handheld japanese pull saw.

Anyways, here are a couple pics of some pens I've made recently!
 

Attachments

  • 1000027747.jpg
    1000027747.jpg
    305.4 KB · Views: 44
  • 1000027984.jpg
    1000027984.jpg
    375.5 KB · Views: 40
  • 1000027722.jpg
    1000027722.jpg
    195 KB · Views: 38
  • 1000027715.jpg
    1000027715.jpg
    349 KB · Views: 48
Welcome to the hobby! Nice work getting going on pen making. As for different pens, I might suggest Bullseye Turning Supply, owned by Kate Harrow, a member here, as well as McKenzie Penworks, owned by Tim McKenzie, also a member here. These are more pricey and upscale pens than a lot of the others you will find in the market, but are good for special gifts. https://www.mckenziepenworks.com, https://bullseyeturningsupply.com/
 
Here's a link to 9 pages of segmented pens ( if you havent come across it before ) that should give you plenty of ideas when you start getting into the segmenting.
 
Back
Top Bottom