starting up AND finishing!

[Meg]

Hi
this is my first time on this site and indeed any site! I am a callligrapher and would like to make my own nib holders/handles. can any of you point me in the right direction for starting up with smallest amount of equipment - I can get diferent woods.
any help gratefully appreciated - thanks

 

[titan2]

Others here can address the minimum amount of equipment you could get by with for starters....

I have the hardware made up in kits that you use for making calligraphy/dip pens.....add the woods of your choice and some tools for turning them to your desired shape and you're all set.

If you want to know more about the kits that I have just PM me and I'll send you the information. If you need anything else....just ask.



Barney

 

[jskeen]

Hi
this is my first time on this site and indeed any site! I am a callligrapher and would like to make my own nib holders/handles. can any of you point me in the right direction for starting up with smallest amount of equipment - I can get diferent woods.
any help gratefully appreciated - thanks

well, now, that question just begs for more questions in return. In theory, you can turn a nib holder with a drill and a screwdriver. Actually, you can do that in practice too, I've done it. But, realistically you probably want a lathe of some sort and at least a couple of dedicated turning chisels to do the basic shaping.

Now for the questions. Do you planning to turn handles for your existing nibs? Or order some new ones? If new, most will come with instructions on how to mount the nibs. But for existing ones you may have to figure it out on your own. Most probably will need a certain size hole drilled in the handle to slip into, or a specific size tennon turned on the end to slip over. The tennon is easy, but the hole requires some way to drill, and the right size bit to drill with before you start turning.

Second question, do you plan to create and polish attractive holders, or are you just interested in cranking out a bunch of working handles for a bunch of different nibs. If the former you will need a way to smooth out your turnings, some type of finish to apply to them, and some way to buff the finish to a shine.

And as for the wood that you can acquire, is is already sized relatively close to what you want your finished holders to be? If not, you will need some way to get it close to the right size before you start turning. Many start out with a small tabletop bandsaw, some probably keep using it, but most end up upgrading to something larger eventually.

So, the answers to these (and probably a couple more questions I forgot) will help us help you get a better idea of what you will need.

Most of all, if you get started turning, you will need lots and lots of money. This hobby is comparable in cost to a modest cocaine habit, from what I've seen.

James

 

[ed4copies]

Hey James,

How did you come to know what a "modest cocaine habit" costs???:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: (Enquiring minds...............and nosy bas----people need to know!!)

 

[ctubbs]

Hey James,

How did you come to know what a "modest cocaine habit" costs???:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: (Enquiring minds...............and nosy bas----people need to know!!)

Now Ed, you 're getting a little too personal.:wink::biggrin::biggrin:
Charles

 

[jskeen]

Hey James,

How did you come to know what a "modest cocaine habit" costs???:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: (Enquiring minds...............and nosy bas----people need to know!!)

Well, you make an educated guess as to what a couple of old friends of mine had to their names at one point, and then deduct... about that much. That's what a cocaine habit tends to cost.

But back to the question at hand, another old friend of mine once told me back when I was trying to sell flatwork and complaining about how much it cost to get set up to do what I wanted to do at the time " Don't ever start turning, that will cost even more, leave you with less time, and drive you crazy" To which I replied "so would a cocaine habit, but I don't have one of those yet either". Seems even more applicable now that I'm here :biggrin:

 

[KenV]

Hi Meg --

There are a bunch of good woodturners in the UK and a few hang out here from time to time.

Those few I know who have the talent to craft bueatiful penmanship use either dip pens or fountain pens. The dippers tend to have several handles with interchangable nibs. The fountainpen ones have a few with special tips and inks.

Which takes us to the question -- how many will you make and how much are you willing to spend to make those.

Finding a turning club locally is a good approach because you can often borrow some gear to start, or find used equipment for a modest price. the cost of a lathe varies from a few dollars used to the $6-$7,000 on the higher end.