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Greeting From Dronfield

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Good afternoon everyone.

Many thanks for letting me join what looks like a great forum.

I am totally new to woodturning and have yet to turn anything, I am hoping that I have not bit off more than I can chew by choosing pen making as my chosen hobby.

I have been working on sorting out my shed since August and plan to have it all done over the next couple of weeks, it will be at that time I bite the bullet and go for it. Well I say go for it, but I will but will more than likely start getting in the equipment needed, I have a lathe, chisels, a chuck and the willpower. It's confusing for a new comer to the pen making world as to what is needed to start apart from blanks so no doubt I will be asking lots of questions on here.

So here's to my future as a pen maker :thumbs:
 

Geoff Kent

Graduate Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2021
Posts
496
Location
Westcliff on Sea,Essex.
First Name
GEOFF
Welcome to the forum(madhouse)Gary.There are loads of experienced turners here.Any advice needed fire away.If you trawl the archives you will find lots of good advice and tips.I would suggest,before you start your first pen, to practice on scrap timber to get used to your lathe and tools.Practice,apparently,makes perfect!
Good luck with what is an extremely addictive hobby.:winking:
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Welcome to the forum, advice is free and that's about all that is in penturning :sob:
No honestly when I started I was given kits and blanks and loads of free advice, I love being in that position now to help others..... Please ask away, never think 'this might be a stupid question' because you think it, someone else has probably already asked it......
Before long you'll find your feet and venture off in what direction that is, its not just pen turning there's blank making, casting, all sorts of things to do..... Enjoy your journey
 

Terry Q

Fellow
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
3,847
Location
Roanoke, Illinois USA
First Name
Terry
Hello Gary. Welcome to the forum. You do realize that you are about to step off a cliff.:whistling: Its a great hobby and if your lucky a little coin may find it's way into your pocket.
 

alpha1

Fellow
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Posts
1,175
Location
middlesbrough
First Name
Dave
Hi and welcome. I started my pen turning journey here as a complete beginner. There is a wealth of knowledge amongst the forum members. I have learned a lot from the guys here. Feel free to ask away. I tend to use pen kits from either Beufort ink who sponsors the forum or TM pens. I suggest you turn a couple of cheap pen blanks to round to start off with. Then buy a cheap single tube pen kit and see how you get on. Don,t forget to post pictures.
 

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Thanks everyone, Not sure how to do a thanks/like to individual posts so that's why I have not done it.

There seem to be so many different pen kits available with different prices that I have become confused with it all, Is penmaking a case of the more spent on a kit the better the quality and if so what are the main characteristics should I be looking for? Would something like this be good value or is it a typical overpriced item from Rutlands? Woodturning Pen Kits | Next Day Delivery :idontknow:
 

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
421
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Welcome to the forum. There are sellers that have pen turning packages and so forth that you can buy if you want to help them line their pockets buying all the goodies, gadgets and upgrades. If you spend the time researching you will learn there are many ways to accomplish the same thing. For example the package you linked shows a pen mandrel that you would normally put the pen barrels on to turn. The thing of it is you can do what is called Turning Between Centres, often abbreviated to TBC. Instead of the mandrel you put the pen barrel between a live centre (a 60º cone that spins on a bearing) in the tailstock and a dead centre (a solid cone that is driven) in the headstock. A little cheaper and more accurate method. You turn to size measuring as you go. There are a number of variations on the theme. So I would suggest asking questions as you read so you can form a clearer picture in your mind of how to go through each step of the process. It will save you some money along the way unless you are blessed with deep pockets and are happy emptying them. Each of us will have preferred methods of doing things that we are happy to share. You have the pleasure of wading through them. :winking: It really isn't complicated or insurmountable. We have all been through it in one form or another.

Cost of pen kits can be an indicator of quality but there are gimmicky pens, ones that have themes etc that don't hold up. You will find that vendors are a better way to go as the good ones will stand behind the pens they sell and they don't offer bad ones. An example is the common Slimline pen. They are generally on the low end of the cost spectrum but there are ones made in Taiwan that are better quality than some that come from China. Cheapest isn't always the best even to learn on. If there is a particular style of pen you like, asking about them before buying will get you opinions from people that have actually turned them.

May I ask what kind of background you have work and hobby wise? It can help with descriptions if we know.

Sorry if I blathered a little too much.

Pete

PS. I'll add along the bottom left of each post is the Thanks/Like buttons. Just click one and you are done.
 

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Welcome to the forum. There are sellers that have pen turning packages and so forth that you can buy if you want to help them line their pockets buying all the goodies, gadgets and upgrades. If you spend the time researching you will learn there are many ways to accomplish the same thing. For example the package you linked shows a pen mandrel that you would normally put the pen barrels on to turn. The thing of it is you can do what is called Turning Between Centres, often abbreviated to TBC. Instead of the mandrel you put the pen barrel between a live centre (a 60º cone that spins on a bearing) in the tailstock and a dead centre (a solid cone that is driven) in the headstock. A little cheaper and more accurate method. You turn to size measuring as you go. There are a number of variations on the theme. So I would suggest asking questions as you read so you can form a clearer picture in your mind of how to go through each step of the process. It will save you some money along the way unless you are blessed with deep pockets and are happy emptying them. Each of us will have preferred methods of doing things that we are happy to share. You have the pleasure of wading through them. :winking: It really isn't complicated or insurmountable. We have all been through it in one form or another.

Cost of pen kits can be an indicator of quality but there are gimmicky pens, ones that have themes etc that don't hold up. You will find that vendors are a better way to go as the good ones will stand behind the pens they sell and they don't offer bad ones. An example is the common Slimline pen. They are generally on the low end of the cost spectrum but there are ones made in Taiwan that are better quality than some that come from China. Cheapest isn't always the best even to learn on. If there is a particular style of pen you like, asking about them before buying will get you opinions from people that have actually turned them.

May I ask what kind of background you have work and hobby wise? It can help with descriptions if we know.

Sorry if I blathered a little too much.

Pete

PS. I'll add along the bottom left of each post is the Thanks/Like buttons. Just click one and you are done.


Many thanks for your quick reply Pete.

I took up the hobby of making sawdust appx 3 years ago, Like many others before me I the view I had in my minds eye was a totally different one to what my skill set was.
I had visions of me making some outstanding looking boxes all with perfect joints and a finish on them that would be welcomed anywhere.
I thought I would be able to make some outstanding furniture for inside the home and the garden.
I also thought I would never need to buy anyone a gift again as I would be able to make something that I would be proud to give someone.

Sadly it was not long before reality took over, I was making big pieces of wood into smaller pieces then smaller again as I was constantly re-doing the joints due to whopping big gaps.
I found that no matter how hard I tried I just can not saw anything in a straight line, like anyone I did the normal thing and blamed the tools.
My original plan was to do everything using nothing but hand tools, I think that was my first big mistake.
I then started to try and throw money at things and purchased power tools and jigs and found all I was doing was make awful things faster.
So I did the normal thing and blamed the tiny work area (It was very tiny) and ended up buying an 8' x 8' shed last year.

I got everything set up and gave it all another go, this time I was going to make a dolls house, after all how difficult can that be?
After failing miserably at making one I came to the conclusion it must be the lack of cupboard space so I have spent since August making and installing cupboards all the way around the shed, I still need to sort all of the contents out and would like to say they look great, sadly though they do not look great they look awful. I noticed that I was not looking at the problem correctly and that is that I am just not cut out to do woodwork at any level. I am sure there are others equally as bad but the cost has been high in monetary terms before I accepted it.

I found an Axminster Lathe (used 3 times) on Ebay, the ad had just been placed when I spotted it and I managed to snag myself an absolute bargain, I had no clue what I was going to do with it but it is vital I get myself a good hobby. Then out of the blue it struck me ... Pens .. I only wish I had thought of it before now. I am more excited than I was when I first thought of doing woodworking and plan to really make a go of it.

What I have not mentioned is that I am classed as disabled and have a chronic case of COPD I also have mobility issues that have arisen over the last 10 years and becoming progressively worse so I really need to start doing things in the shed instead of making excused as to why I can't, I am ex forces and have reached retirement age so we (Mrs G) live off our pensions so all the money spent so far could of been spent on making our daily living better, we don't have the money to throw much at this venture so I am even more determined to make it work.

Phew I bet you are sorry you asked now :winking:
 

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
421
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Not sorry I asked at all. Knowing that makes it easier for us to suggest less costly ways for you to do things.

Because of your COPD it is imperitive you get a good cartridge respirator and at the very least and wear it religiously even for a time after you are done because fine dust, you can't see it, floats in the air for hours. Since you have such a small shed you can open it up to ventilate while working or at least after to get that dust out. Fumes from finishes and glues too. If you can't breathe comfortably through a cartridge mask then a powered respirator would , more costly though, help. You haven't got a lot of room for a good dust collector but a decent sized fan behind the lathe venting outside will carry off the fine dust. Did it at my fathers place when he was alive with a couple 16" fans and it pulled everything except his shoes out. Downside is the practiality of doing it in the cold weather.

Pete
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Hi Gary me living 13000 miles from you. I liked Curlies reply,may I add I just looked up where you live,so close to Sheffield . There must be ww groups in your area you could join ,I feel the camerarderie of my Wood Guild still after joining in the 80,s last century. You cannot buy the combined experience such groups offer.All the best I may add at 86yrs I know of the physical restraints that can hold you back. All the best mate from over here.

Peter.:thumbs:
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Hi and welcome Gary.

Using hand tools is a case of plenty of practice.

Yes I know I tend to have machines to do most of the work with which does make it a little easier most of these I have collected over quite a period of time as and when funds allowed the exception to using the machines is when working on small parts for the wooden models I have made.

My workshop is 8' X 12' so not massive by any means and like many could do with a larger one which is on the cards at the moment. Like most things the wife wants other jobs doing first:whistling::whistling::whistling:
 

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Hi Gary me living 13000 miles from you. I liked Curlies reply,may I add I just looked up where you live,so close to Sheffield . There must be ww groups in your area you could join ,I feel the camerarderie of my Wood Guild still after joining in the 80,s last century. You cannot buy the combined experience such groups offer.All the best I may add at 86yrs I know of the physical restraints that can hold you back. All the best mate from over here.

Peter.:thumbs:


Hi Peter,

I have searched in vain for woodwork clubs and mens sheds in and around Sheffield.

I have since managed to find a woodturning club that meets up twice a month I suppose that is better than not meeting up at all Sheffield Woodturners Home

I have had my eye on it for a while now but with this darned Covid lockdowns they have not been open, Restrictions are easing a little so hopefully I will be able to join up in the not so distant future. I will also be looking to see if I can find another club somewhere that hopefully meets up more regular but so far it has been like platting fog finding one. If I persevere and ask around when that club opens I am sure something will turn up.

I hope making pens is easier than finding clubs near me :winking:
 

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Hi and welcome Gary.

Using hand tools is a case of plenty of practice.

Yes I know I tend to have machines to do most of the work with which does make it a little easier most of these I have collected over quite a period of time as and when funds allowed the exception to using the machines is when working on small parts for the wooden models I have made.

My workshop is 8' X 12' so not massive by any means and like many could do with a larger one which is on the cards at the moment. Like most things the wife wants other jobs doing first:whistling::whistling::whistling:


An 8' X 12' workshop is just plain showing off :drool: I dream of such things ..............
 

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
421
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Our woodworking and turning clubs met once a month and do the same on Zoom now, so a club that would get together twice a month would be something.

I know a local pen turner living in a one bedroom apartment and in his "shop", the pantry, I can touch any two walls without stretching my arms. Mine is 24' x 28' with my metal lathe, milling machine and air compressor along the back of the garage below. No matter how big your shop you will almost always wish for more but can work with what you have. :thumbs:

Pete
 

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Our woodworking and turning clubs met once a month and do the same on Zoom now, so a club that would get together twice a month would be something.

I know a local pen turner living in a one bedroom apartment and in his "shop", the pantry, I can touch any two walls without stretching my arms. Mine is 24' x 28' with my metal lathe, milling machine and air compressor along the back of the garage below. No matter how big your shop you will almost always wish for more but can work with what you have. :thumbs:

Pete


I don't think the flat we live in is that big :sob:
 

Pierre

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2015
Posts
996
Location
Southern Central France
First Name
Pierre
Hi Gary, as a person who converted to boxes from the military, I can understand what you went through. Much, however, with power tools depends on the alignment and the hysteresis latent in the tool, for example if you are aligning a planer thicknesser, you should complete the final adjustment upwards (never downwards) since there will always be a slight movement as the machine starts up and gravity will remove just enough to misalign. Equally, when doing box angles (normally 45 degrees but others are available) it is important to do all the cuts at the same time after a test cut to prove the angle. On this latter also cutting with a sacrificial board (plywood) under the piece helps keep the kerf clean and the angle tight. Finally, rather than just squares all of the time try asymmetric work it hides a lot of faults. There are loads in the one below. :goesred::goesred: Welcome to the forum and as said above ask away, one of us will have had the problem before and overcome it.

Garden 071.jpg
 

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
10,997
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
Welcome to the family Gary. Ask, learn & enjoy your turning. Just remember, we all started where you are, knowing nothing so ask away.
 
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