Brad, you are more than welcome, I always try to be honest, when critiquing a pen or anything else. Those who are willing to accept a good critique, one where there's no punches pulled about things that I see that I don't about certain pens. No matter if, they are pleasing to the pen turner or not. Actually, I do it with most things that I'm into,after all, pieces are posted for a true critique aren't they? Well I don't see any sense in blowing smoke up someone's butt just to make them feel good.If I'm going to critique something, it will be a fair and honest one.I don't believe in saying that's a gorgeous pen, when there's issues as plain as your nose on it. How is that person supposed to improve, if all they ever get, is "nice pen" from everyone viewing it. The person won't, they will be lead to think that they have mastered it all that is involved in pen turning.That's part of the reason, that I would like to see a Critique section on the site. If you just want praise and "nice pen" replies, post your pen in the show your pen sec. For those that can actually take a critique, post your pens and pencils in the CRITIQUE section. Then they will know what to expect instead of the "nice Pen reply, they can expect an honest critiquing of their pens. Not anything mean or malicious, just an honest to goodness fair critiquing of their work. You can critique someone's work without being mean, I think I did a fair job critiquing your pen. And I apologized up front, just so that you would know that I wasn't just being mean. Plus, you never know how a person will take a criticism of their work, even if it is meant to help them out.Some people just can't be criticized, and I'm fine with that. It's not my problem, if they can't take some constructive criticism. They take anything negative being said about their pen, as a personal attack. Those people have a lot of growing up to do, and they should state that they will get angry with anything negative said about their pens.
Len
decades, when I come to think about it )