Drilling on the lathe is great as long as you have the means to hold the pen blank. You will need a chuck for the drill bits and here is one e-bay source: http://cgi.ebay.com/3-8-KEYLESS-DRILL-CHUCK-MORSE-TAPER-2-SHANK-NEW_W0QQitemZ140173851910QQihZ004QQcategoryZ25292QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The price is really good too.
If you go to Woodcraft to get your start-up pen kits be sure to ask what bushings you need for each model of pen kit you get. I recommend that you get one mandrel for each kit and keep the bushings on their own mandrel. That way they don't get mixed up with all the others and you know exactly where they are at all times.
Tools- well that depends on you and your fortune. I like the longer handled tools as they are far more stable than any of the short thingies. By all means do not get a miniature set as you will be going right back and getting the big tools asap. Just buy the best that you can afford and you will not be disappointed early on. Remember too that you need a way to keep these tools sharp and the sharper the better.
Make sure you have very adequate lighting on your work surfaces. Look through the above e-bay vendors list of "Other Items". He offers a nice adjustable Halogen light fixture for around $40.00. Get that and the drill chuck at the same time.
Go to Woodcraft and stand at their display lathe. Get a couple of tools off the rack and handle them as though you were actually turning. That way you can get a 'feel' for what sized tools you like. IF you are not already a turner, then by all means take a class and ask 1000's of questions here on the Forum and at Woodcraft, etc. [
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