Motivation

[mikedealer]

You find yourself sitting at your workbench, some good music playing, beer or a smoke in hand, staring at your lathe, your chisels, stack of untouched blanks, pen kits, whatever. What do you do to get yourself turning.

Been in a turning rut.
Last time I got in rut I decided to kinda stagger my builds. Like get together 5 kits, lay em all out. And get 5 kits blanked up in one shot. Then take break or come back next day and turn them all out. Then next time assemble them all up.

I know 5 isn't a lot by any means, but I like to take time and relax when making them.

But here I am again kinda staring. Low on inventory of things I make, and need to re-up inventory. But have no drive to crack the whip on myself.

Anyone got anything interesting they make lately with pen blank wood, like different projects or something. Was gonna try a complex "open air" style segmented pen blank with a colored brass barrel underneath, waiting on a new saw blade first on that project.
Wanted to try turning a leather handled screwdriver( to match my hammer), with one of those nice quad tip double ended screwdrivers from like a Home Depot or something.
Give me some inspiration someone.

 

[mikedealer]

Just turned out a pipe tamper. Got something back in me I guess hah

 

[plantman]

Many times when I am drawing a blank as to what I should make next, I will clamp a Cedar board in my vice and take out one of my wood planes and just make curly shavings for a while. The only sound will be the iron cutting the wood grain along with the smell of the fresh Cedar in the air. I find this to be very relaxing and inspiring on the mind and soul. Jim S

 

[mikedealer]

I like that. Great inspiration to get going. I took out a peice I've been carving for last 3 months. Yes it only looks like I spent 3 hours on it and not 3 months, but I'll get er done slowly haha

 

[Joe S.]

That is usually the point where I try something crazy. Segmenting, casting, kitless, and sometimes even bowls. I just ask myself "what sounds fun right now?"

 

[JimB]

When I feel like that I usually either clean my shop or make it messy by rough turning some bowl blanks.

Since you asked about doing something with pen blanks I would suggest doing an inside out Christmas tree ornament. It takes 4 pen blanks. Disclaimer: I've never done one but I have seen it done.