Where have all the 7mm turners gone?

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Smitty37

Passed Away Mar 29, 2018
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We used to have a bunch of 7mm turners here who often had something to say but many of them no longer seem to be around. What happened to them?
 
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You mean almost exclusively 7mm? I think quite a few folks here make some 7mm pens, although some don't make any.

I make very few of them, do I do put out a euro every month or two and a slim / trim usually upon request / order
 
We still make them, but truth be told we are so busy with the kids and work that we don't end up making as many as we feel that we should, with the exception of cartridge pens that I usually make sure that we have made.
 
I still turn 7mm pens...mostly modified but I just figure everyone is tired of seeing them. I love seeing what I can make from the Granddaddy of pen kits. What a versatile kit. I think lots of pen turners are missing some great fun and creativity by not turning 7mm kits. My collection of modified slimline pens just keeps growing.'
Do a good turn daily!
Don
 
Smitty; I think that as we do more and more pens the 7MM just isn't a chalange any more, unless we can modify it in some way, shape, or form. It is a great low cost base kit to try new things on however. Also when you pay good money for that fantastic blank, it pains you to see most of it on the floor after turning. I agree with Don, it makes you think out of the box to come up with something that hasn't been seen before. I also prefer pens that post. Just my thoughts. Jim S
 
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Slims are actually my favorite 7mm kit. I haven't been doing many lately because I switched to TBC and didn't get bushings for them yet.
 
I still turn them. Just haven't been getting much shop time lately. I sell quite a few pens to the school teachers that I work with. Slimlines are one of my best sellers.
 
I haven't turned any pens since before Christmas. I retired and am spending a lot of time remodeling our home. I am also a woodworker and have done some custom work since retiring.

I favor the Steamlines and enjoy turning 7mm pens, in general.

With the remodeling and the yardwork/gardening I have planned, looks like pen turning will be a winter hobby for the next few years!
 
sbell111 said:
I actually believe that a slimline is considerably more of a challenge to turn and assemble than most other kits.
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Steve: It is ! Because of the thiness of the blank, you have little or no room for err. That's why the first thing we do with a Slimline is throw away the center band that restricts the size that we can make the pen. Don Ward (its virgil) has written a book on turning modified slimline pens for anyone that is intrested in some of the things you can do with this kit. Jim S
 
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plantman said:
sbell111 said:
I actually believe that a slimline is considerably more of a challenge to turn and assemble than most other kits.
Click to expand...

Steve: It is ! Because of the thiness of the blank, you have little or no room for err. That's why the first thing we do with with a Slimline is throw away the center band that restricts the size that we can make the pen. Don Ward (its virgil) has written a book on turning modified slimline pens for anyone that is intrested in some of the things you can do with this kit. Jim S
Click to expand...
That's why I asked the question in the other thread about beefing up the tip and cap a small amount on comforts.
.
 
Most of my 7mm projects are custom styluses for iPad/iPhone. I have an order I'm overdue on completing for some slim lines...keep getting sidetracked by bigger/shinier/cooler things. :biggrin:
 
80-90% of my pens are still 7mm of various types
Sure wish I could remember where I got those Creeklines from :wink:
 
I still turn 7mm pens, but the first part of the year, I have to choose fishing bass or turning. I do both but between honey do 's and fishing pens have been in third place.
 
Whenever one of our local woodturning clubs does a home & garden show or a school fair, I turn a few Slimlines. Gives people an idea of how a wood pen is made and doesn't take too long. Lots of interest. We've actually turned (no pun intended) a few people onto turning -- pens and other things -- and it is a good way to increase club membership.
 
I am in the middle of doing 20, my daughter leaves primary ( don't what that is state side she is 11) all the parents have hired 2 limos to take them for a ride then on to bowling for some fun and food. I post my first pic when they are done.
 
I still see a few turners that are doing some really cool stuff with 7mm hardware, and they are truly gifted turners. For me it really doesn't take much longer to make a Jr. Gent 2 than it make a slimline. I believe that as we get better and better at making pens we gravitate to the more expensive components and should not be competing with the newer turners in the market place. We can all sell pens if that is what we choose to do but as we get better and more confident we should be moving up and allowing that piece of the market that is priced a bit less to be filled by the newer turners so they can sell their pens and develop into higher end pens and leave the less expensive pens to the next group of beginners. As I continue to develop my skills I am moving up to even more expensive builds and this leaves the mid range for the turners that are moving up and out of the 7mm pens to mid range and this makes room for newer turners to move into the 7mm slot. This cycle continues and lets us all keep advancing. I have also seen turners try to jump right into the mid and upper end. For the most part you can see the difference between the works of someone that has taken the time to learn the art of pen making by making lots of pens and someone that is just jumping right into the mid and upper end without gaining that experience that is needed to truly make pens at the mid to upper mid levels. Then of course there are those that have developed beyond components that fill another side of the art of pen making. I have dabbled there but have not developed enough to walk on that path yet. Maybe one day!
 
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I love to turn them! Using "tube-on" techniques gives them a very unique look. Just my .02¢
 

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I like the slims and still turn some, but the larger pens produce a much better profit margin and are less effort to turn. I make whatever the customer wants.
 
I turned around 5 when is tarted and moved on. just last week however i started with a few Trimlines and like the wider center band alot better. Ill be making a few more off and on in the future.
 
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