Never made a pen

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
H

H2O

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
246
Hi!
I'm am new here and I've never made a pen. I never knew it was an option until recently.
I was amazed at what I had seen at the craft fairs, but now I am able to see the pictures on here of what people have done and I'm blown away.
I thought it might be possible for me to make a pen like I had seen at the craft fairs, but I don't think I could ever make anything like I've seen here. I wouldn't know where to begin. I'm very intimidated by the skill level and might have to re-think my position on attempting the endeavor.

Looking at the pictures of peoples fine works, I'm intrigued by the plastic types, with their vibrant colors and the shiny/shimmering appearance. With my uncertain future, I can't invest much to get started, but the plastic style is definitely where I would like to apply my effort.
Can anyone recommend a place to get inexpensive plastics? I have found some on the internet, but the very between $5 and $15 each. That added to the cost of the pen kits will result in one, maybe two, pens.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
If money is an object then I would recommend that you practice on a piece of throw away wood. All you need is a piece or two that measure a bit larger than 1/2 inch square and 2 inches long each. Wood is cheap and easy to find compared to the "plastic" (acrylic) blanks you are speaking of.
Do you have a pen mandrel? Do you have a means to drill a hole straight through the length on the wood blanks?
I recommend that you search YouTube for pen making and watch a few before starting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQAkjSGeZZk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl0D2Hjp_Eo
 
Checkout the "How To......" vids at Exotic Blanks.
Search the library here in the IAP

The is more knowledge here then you will ever need.
And if you have questions.........we are all here to help.
 
I would not start with plastic or acrylic myself. I had too many failures in the beginning but the low cost wooden blanks did not break the blank. Do not worry about failure. Get some inexpensive kits and inexpensive blanks and ENJOY. You WILL have failures, but think of those as an opportunity to learn how to fix them. I really got down on myself the first few times I failures. I want to say the BEST thing that helped me was coming here to talk about it, share pictures of what I did, listen and learn from these AMAZING people!

You can watch YouTubes over and over, as I did, but until you actually put something on the lathe, it will not mean too much. But the first time you have completed a pen, you will be amazed and wanting to try another.

Dive in, have fun, and well, you will soon be addicted to pen turning like the rest of us here. :) :)
 
Don't start with plastic, wood is free. You have to "learn" to "turn" wood or anything else. It is not a gift that comes in a box! If you practice on a piece of firewood, you will learn to appreciate the beauty inside the wood. Every one is different. It is God's gift to all of us.:biggrin:
 
I have to agree with Barry, I would start with wood. With a small board and you get a ton of blanks out of it, I would start with maybe cherry or walnut. Then move on the more expensive materials. That said, there are many people here on IAP selling PR blanks at very reasonable prices, take a look around. I would say make the blanks yourself but that opens a new can of worms and costs associated, starting off it's actually cheaper to buy. Make sure you like it first. Watch he marketplace for someone downsizing their stash, you have to be fast on the trigger though the good deals go fast. Congrats, and welcome the addiction!
 
Hi Dan!

Welcome to the IAP! This is a great group! There is a lot of information here. Just jump in, ask questions, and have fun!

Scott.
 
I've gotten inexpensive acrylics by watching the Closeout section of various suppliers...I've picked up quite a few for $2/each. Doesn't hurt the wallet as much when you ruin one of those...
 
Thanks for the advise and encouragement. I can do some practice on woods to get used to the lathe, but since yesterday was my first day of being unemployed, I would like my first pen to be plastic since I am unsure of when I will have expendable income to practice on several attempts at rendering a kit unusable. That is my reasoning for making a plastic pen as a first pen.
I have used corian a couple of times, but it seems that it is much more expensive than the plastic pen pieces. I've tried the cabinet shops and they either keep the scrap for other uses, or want to sell it at retail cost. I've been quoted $23 a square foot at the low end.

I will get some of the accessories ordered so I can do some practicing on woods, but I will wait to make a pen until I have the plastic pieces.
I will keep everyone informed on my progress or lack of.

Dan
 
Dan, it is inexpensive to buy some extra brass pen tubes. You can turn several wood barrels to practice without the expense of using a kit.

Send me your address and I'll send you some blanks to practice on.

Chris
 
Thanks for the information, Bob, but I am on the opposite side of the state.

I've been watching video's and doing plenty of reading, and I have come to the conclusion that I won't be making a pen.

There are just too many tools and accessories I would need to acquire to get started. I never realized the amount of supplies needed or the cost associated with making a pen. I was intrigued and figured I might give it a go, it seemed simple enough, but I can use the bank's pen to sign my deposit slip. That's about the only time I use a pen. I was hoping to try something new and have the additional benefit of giving them as gifts, it's just not possible at this time.

I wish all of you the best that have made the investment. I am still amazed at the work that everyone does.
 
I will give you one little tip for the future.

WHEN you have made the investment in tools and supplies.
Start with slimline pens as they are the easiest and least costly to make.
When you walk into a cabinet shop or countertop shop.......ask for the boss
and give him a pen made from wood or whatever product he is using.

THEN ask for his scraps. Be prepared to walkout with nothiing and you
will be surprised at just how much you can get, by starting out giving.
 
I would like to encourage you to not throw in the towel. I started with a lathe from a pawn shop and no idea what i was doing. I found this site and the great people here walked me through fixing the lathe and the first pen. I dont turn as much as i would like to but it is very rewarding when the pen or just a barrel comes off the lathe. I have found that pallets have some wonderful grains and markings that really add to the enjoyment, and they are free most times. Check Craigslist or freespace for supplies on the cheap too.
 
Thanks guys!
I have a lathe, that I've never used, and access to wood (probably not the nice stuff you guys use), but the issue is all of the other required items, i.e. chisels, pen mandrel, drill bits, drill chuck, pen reamer, pen bushings, etc. It seems that each type of pen requires different accessories. I added up the required items and it came close to $200 just to be able to make one or two pens of the same style.
I thought it would be nice (and much simpler/less costly) to make some gifts for my nieces (I have five of them, all still in school) for birthdays.
 
well buy a mandrel to fit your tool... and the least expensive kits would be slimlines, and you can buy in lots of 10 cheaper. Some mandrels will come with bushings for slimlines, if not, they are only like $4. Buy one good 7 MM drill bit. I forget, what type of lathe do you have?
 
You can buy a good starter set of chisels at Harbor Freight for $50. I believe it is a set of 6 More then enough to start even if they are not the best.....good enough to learn with.

The type of wood matters little. I started turning pine for pratice. Some of my first pieces were from a construction site that I asked if I could gleen the garbage pile.

I tell you what, you send me you address and I will send you a small flate rate box of wood......cut to blank size. Cost you nothing. All different kinds of wood.


SOMETHING else for you to look at.......Check in the Library here for things you can make yourself.
Do this on the cheap and you will be very surprised just how little you need to start.
I am also willing to bet that if you buy 10 kits, that there is a couple of vendors here that would give you a drill bit and bushings.
 
Last edited:
What size mandrel do you need? MT1 or MT2 ? If you need #1 i will send you mine from my other lathe. PM me your address and I can see what i can put together for you. Blanks and assorted stuff. I will see what I can do.
 
I actually started turning pens with one carbide tool I bought through Rockler. I think I paid less than $50 for it on sale. I think you can find something similar if you look.

Sounds to me like a lot of people are willing to help you get started. That is how the people on this site are. I almost gave up on pen turning until I found this site. Now I am hooked and have learned SO much. I have a LOT more to learn, but love turning pens!
 
I can't find any information on whether it's a #1 or #2 for the drive center. I read it has a #2 for the live center. I have a Shopsmith, I think it's the mark V. I have never used it, I bought it a couple of years ago with big expectations, but I never got around to using it.

I see the generosity from the members of this website and I appreciate it very much, but I don't expect anyone to give away their hard earned items.

I've seen that Woodcraft offers a pen making class. I think I should take a class and determine if making pens would be a good fit for me.
 
PSI makes a mandrel to fit a shopsmith. I think it costs the same as the MT1 and MT2 mandrels. You need one that has a 5/8 socket on the drive end, and then you use a live center on the opposite end.
 
Before you toss in the towel, I started in my basement before there there were resources like this site. I purchased a bench top drill press, a "vertilathe", and a cheap set of chisels from eBay. Total investment was maybe $50. Although I had some experience with a lathe in HS, it was way in the past. You don't need a lot. Basically you need to drill a hole in a wooden blank, mount a tube, mount it on a mandrel, and turn it. You don't even need to make a pen at first. Rather you can just practice turning things to size (either with bushings or not).

I have a whole slew of plain wooden blanks that I'll never use. If you want 'em, they're yours.

Best,
Jerry

Forgot to mention: I used a large C-clamp to press my first pens together. I've probably got one of those in a box somewhere as well.
 
Last edited:
I might have an extra mandrel as well, if you have a drill chuck for your Shopsmith. I don't use it, or the blanks.

J
 
Dan, you don't really need a "bunch" of chisels. My goto chisel for making pens is a homemade version of the "Pen Genie"(Google it). It is the only tool I use to turn basic pen blanks. Yeah you might need some sort of detailer if you are going to put coves and beads all over the pen but I don't think you see much of that in the pens here on the IAP. For the price of a piece of 1/2" key stock, 3-5$ at Tractor Supply or similar store I will make you one and throw in one new carbide cutter. You wouldn't even have to pay me just pass it forward someday. Total investment would be maybe <$8 for the tool, $3-5 for the steel, $2.60 for the carbide and a free handle, got all kinds of free wood. By pass it forward I simple mean that if it doesn't work for you or you upgrade to better tooling send the homemade version to the next newbie.

As for bushings a lot of guys on here do not use them, they simple measure the part then turn the blank to the measurement. Do it occasionally myself when I don't have the proper bushing.

Do agree with others though, start with wood, plastics take a little more finesse to prevent cracking and shattering. I would also include a few spare 7mm slimline tubes, got tons of those since I finally learned how to turn without messing them up, they are just taking up space. Might be a couple extra items in my package if you are interested. Send me a PM with your address.
 
Last edited:
Hey Dan,
A class would be a good thing. Even better, see if you can find someone local to you that is turning pens and ask for their help. I bet you find the door wide open to you. Mentors are one thing we all need at times to keep us going. But more important, the friendship here in the IAP is priceless.
I think the people here have solved most of your problems with starting up turning pens. The next step is up to you. Send out your address to those who have asked for it. They wouldn't have asked if they were not ready to help in the way they offered.
And as JD said, the way you pay us back is by helping the next person when you can. And even that isn't expected, but that is the heart of the IAP.
 
I have never seen this kind of generosity. I have no words to describe how appreciative I am to everyone, for their advice, and kind offers.

I have read a lot of the information on this site, and I hope I can utilize as much of it as possible and live up to expectations.

I look forward to being one of the people that can help new people with advice, experiences, and a gift box to help them along.

Thank you to everyone on this site!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom