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Hello and possibly goodbye!

Prokraft

Apprentice Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2017
Posts
32
Location
Ludlow, UK
First Name
Jon
Hello to you all my name is Jon and I run a really small business called Prokraft (run by myself and my wife).

Firstly I am not here to sell you anything in fact we sell very few pens - lots of other bits and pieces but only pens as service line really.

I am however primarily a woodturner and occasional boxmaker and therefore always interested in talking to other like-minded individuals and I have found how lucky I am to work and play in a market that has so many kind helpful and trustworthy people - I am lucky to have made friends all over the world.

If you have time to read on I shall explain how I happened to be here and go on to ask if I should remain.

The little business started as a result of a mini-breakdown I had as a result of losing 4 close members of my family - I gave up work and intended to make and sell wooden items and to cut a long story short failed miserably. In the process however I imported a few too many bottle stoppers so advertised them online and it has grown steadily from there. To start we were awful at it - a bit like turning your first pen, but with practice comes a better result and I hope we are now quite good at it and have some unique items.

The first pen I ever turned I did without a mandrel - if I can do a job without paying for unnecessary tools I will - in my opinion there are a lot of businesses selling all manner of items that you will rarely or never use. A mandrel is not one of these as I have learned - it is essential.

I was introduced to this forum by Glen of Glenpens to whom I am very grateful, however imagine my horror at the first post that mentions my small business a moderator questions my integrity as he has not done his homework properly.

And that is why I'm not sure I should stay - not a great welcome and some very inaccurate information made about a business and person about whom he knows absolutely nothing. As a former police officer I do need any lessons in honesty or integrity, what a representative for a potentially great forum.

As you have all probably gathered by now I do tend to speak my mind - I am a man of few words!
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
Hello Jon - and welcome to the forum.

To save other members from scurrying around to locate the thread you are referring to, it was my post that has caused all the problems. I have apologised to you in that thread, and freely admit that I was guilty of shooting from the hip without thorough enough research to support my opinion. I apologise to you again here and I wish you every success with your business.

I have chosen not to delete the offending post, which would be an easy thing to do as a moderator, on the basis that you may prefer the exposure for your business that it gives you. You, yourself have put the record straight, and if you are happy for things to remain that way, then with egg on my face, so am I.
 

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
Hello and welcome to the madhouse Jon, I hope you will stay with us and become a regular contributor. :banana::thumbs:
 

Paul hd

Fellow
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Posts
1,299
Location
Buckinghamshire
First Name
Paul
Hi Jon,

Welcome mate.
I bought one of your bottle stoppers recently and today I'm turning a bit of resin and pine cone to go with it.
Video will come soon.

Cheers
Paul
 

rayf6604

Registered
Joined
May 1, 2014
Posts
2,726
Location
Narrowboat dweller Willington, Derby
First Name
Ray
Welcome to the forum Jon. This is a very good forum for many reasons, even though I for one don’t post as much as I used to. That’s mainly because I’m not making anything for the foreseeable future. I can vouch safe that our Phil Dart is in fact one of the nicest on this forum, and he will freely give of his invaluable help and advice. There are also plenty of sellers on here so I’m sure you could join them if you so wished. I have bought from several of them over time. :thumbs:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Morning here Jon progress comes from within IMHO please consider remaining. I would like to see your boxes, stoppers whatever. I too crave honesty and support all efforts in that direction.

Kind regards Peter.
 

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,753
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
Anyone can make a misjudgement Jon and Phil has held his hands up to that so hopefully now forgotten and you can enter into the fold.

Good luck with the business as well
 

KevinMc

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2017
Posts
594
Location
North East England - Tyne & Wear
First Name
Kevin
Hi welcome and please stay... the guys on here are all very helpful and I as a new Turner learn something every time I ask a question...

:goesred:
Sometimes we can all misinterpret something or answer too quickly... even woodturners are human..

Keep smiling :banana:
Keep posting
Keep learning and sharing

And most of all don’t hold grudges..

Kevin
 

Prokraft

Apprentice Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2017
Posts
32
Location
Ludlow, UK
First Name
Jon
Thanks all,

what a great welcome even if it started shakily - that is all forgotten - thank you Phil for your apology.

I hope I will learn something here and if I'm very lucky help someone else too - your problems are my opportunities! And if anyone wants my problems they are very welcome! :winking:
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Hi and welcome Jon would like to see what you have made and not just pens. If you look through you will find I don't make many pens but have been known to produce the odd one here and there
 

yorkshireman

Wood Rat
Executive Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Posts
5,199
Location
wrexham
First Name
Keith
Nice to have you with us Jon mate. Just had a quick look at your website, the box hinges look good value. Might invest in some of them.
 

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
10,997
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
Hi Jon & welcome aboard. I’m not a pen turner, I’m a wood turner who turns pens among other things & I enjoy this forum.
Phil is a good & generous guy who will spend a lot of time & effort to keep this forum running.
Hope you enjoy being here.:thumbs:
 

Vic Perrin

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
8,215
Location
Rugeley Staffs
First Name
Vic
Hi Jon and welcome to the Forum. Tons of advice and some good banter to be had on here. Glad to see that you are staying with us and I look forward to seeing some of the work that you do. :thumbs:
 

Walter

Moderator
Fellow
Joined
Apr 22, 2013
Posts
2,697
Location
Amble on the sunny Northumberland coast.
First Name
Walter
Hello and welcome to the forum Jon. I do like the look of your website and particularly those fine brass hinges. I have saved it to my favourites for future reference.

When I saw that a moderator's comments had upset you I immediately thought "what have I said now?" but thankfully I was not to blame this time.

I can confirm that Phil is a jolly fine chap of unquestionable integrity and I am glad that this misunderstanding is now settled.

I agree with you wholeheartedly when you say that "there are a lot of businesses selling all manner of items that you will rarely or never use." Woodturners in general and pen makers in particular are constantly bombarded with the latest new wonder tools many of which bring very little to the party.

I disagree however when you say that a mandrel is essential. Mandrels have indeed been the traditional method of mounting pen blanks for as long as I have been making pens but many of us now have found that turning between centres (TBC) with a 60 degree dead centre in the headstock and a 60 degree revolving centre in the tailstock using bushes that have been specifically designed for the purpose results in a more accurate mounting that is much less prone to "out of round" issues than the traditional mandrel. All of the bushes that Phil supplies for his top quality kits are designed to be used either TBC or with a mandrel and other suppliers such as Taylor's Mirfield and British Made Pen Kits are now supplying this style too.
 

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
The only time I don't TBC Jon is when doing Slimlines, I am not aware of there being 7mm tube insertion bushes. :thinks:
 
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