Time to complete a pen?

[Woodchipper]

While I was working on four pens, I pondered the time to do one pen from start to finish. This would be relative to the material; wood turns faster than synthetics; final preparation and finish applied. I did time and motion study for a company and it was an eye opener where time could be saved by streamlining the system. Has anyone taken the time to figure the time for a pen? This might influence the cost if we think of a "pay scale" per hour.

 

[Ted iin Michigan]

Yep. Been there. Done that. Or, tried to.
As is the case with so many things, it depends. Economy of scale will GREATLY reduce the individual time necessary to complete a pen. If it's a "one off" fountain pen, it might be an investment of several hours over 2, 3 or 4 days. There's always the time to procure materials (computer time), driving to and from the Post Office, etc. Plus the time to get the incidentals necessary like adhesives, abraisives, finish, etc. Really hard to account for all that. Then there's the easy part of turning, finish and assembly.
HOWEVER - I once had a 100+ pen order (another story) and I thought that it would be a good opportunity to do a test. I tracked my hours and compared that to the end product which was a variety of single and two-tube pens. All wood. Mind you this is just the basics. Pick a blank, drill, fix the tube, mill the ends, mount, turn, sand, finish and assemble. All told it came to about an hour and a half.
That was a while ago. I'm faster now.

 

[Woodchipper]

Ted, those were my thoughts. One thing hinges on another with a number of variables. If we were keeping track of time along with a certain wage per hour, pens would cost upward to three or four figures. But...look at the fun we have and the sense of accomplishment when the pen comes off the assembly tool.

 

[bugradx2]

As someone who's done a lot of time studies too, I have way too many therbligs in my process to truly have the critical path correct. I generally do my pens one at a time but if I have a couple of the same type in the queue they will get done together because I have the correct drill bit and bushings out already.

Generally speaking, it's between 1 and 2 hours for a pen for me depending on body type of the pen. Sometimes I can knock one out in under an hour but that usually occurs if I am doing something pretubed that I just need to turn down.

 

[Dustman]

For me it all depends on the mood I'm in at the time. But generally for a kit pen any where between 1-2 hours get it done. But like the reply above, if I'm making more than one of the same I can get it done in less than an hour each. Lot's of variables can and does increase that number. But while I'm having fun I find I really don't care.

 

[Woodchipper]

Al, I agree that part of pen making is having fun plus a sense of accomplishment after everything is done.