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Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Just sorted out my pen display cabinet.

I display ALL of my pens in here even the one's that I have messed up on.

It looks as though each shelf, of which there are four of, can display 25 pens with ease.

I don't think I will win any awards for productivity as those on display have taken a year for me to make, add on an extra 17 for Christmas gifts and birthdays, plus the 5 pens I have so far sold makes a total of 47 or just under 1 a week. If we add on blanks that have blown it then takes that number up to 2 pens per week.

Due to all of my medical (and head) problems my genuine target was 1 pen per month, I have smashed my target so I just wanted to share the moment with you good folk, my mentors.

Out of the 25 on display 5 of them are useless, I have messed them up on assembly or finishing and have 1 that I had to glue in.
Not including the blown blanks I have a 20% failure rate on my finished pens, my plan for this year (June to June) is to get that under 10% and make at least 50 more pens to display. Once the cabinet is full (Appx 100 pens) my aim will be to get rid of the dross bit by bit and fill it with pens that would look good in any of your cabinets, now once that has been achieved my pens will be good enough to be sold. So it looks as though I have another year or so to go before this hobby can support itself.

Looking at those numbers may not seem awe-inspiring to any of you with most (if not all) of you being able to achieve them in a week, however I am over the moon with them. It has been a big struggle for me to get there but I managed it. I am going to carry on doing my best and that includes writing essays on here a few times a week, hopefully this time next year I will be letting you all know I have smashed the years target for the second year running.
 

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Joined
Dec 14, 2017
Posts
1,105
Location
Lake District
First Name
Craig
Some great looking pens, the start of a nice collection. You'd rather turn 1 pen a month that you are happy with, rather than 10 a week your not..

Kind regards

Craig
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,160
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Great selection /collection..... We all start in the same place, some will progress at different speeds and in different directions, my really good friend has gone kitless (dosent post on here:goesred:) I know some turn only wood or acrylic, some turn metal..... Its all about the journey and if your happy:thumbs::thumbs:
I still don't think I'm close to where I want to be, lots to learn 10+ years in:thinks::thinks:
 

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
10,997
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
You are not in a race Gary. Make what you want when you want. Your display looks nice & colourful.:thumbs:
It’s nice to see you plodding away Gary.
 

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
10,997
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
Hi [MENTION=1780]Cumbrian Craig[/MENTION] it’s nice to see you back. It seems a while since I’ve seen you on here. :thumbs: Hope you still find time to turn.
 

silver

General dogsbody
Executive Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Posts
6,301
Location
Somewhere in Staffordshire,
First Name
Eamonn.
Out of the 25 on display 5 of them are useless, I have messed them up on assembly or finishing and have 1 that I had to glue in.

They look good Gary, don't knock the ones that haven't gone right as they are your learning pens. they aren't useless, they have purpose as a reminder on how far you have come in pen making.

my plan for this year (June to June) is to get that under 10% and make at least 50 more pens to display. Once the

I don't blame you for setting targets, but remember quality over quantity is the winner and if you did one pen a month top quality and sold it for £50 its better than making five pens a month and selling them for £10 each.

You are doing well so pat yourself on the back for persevering and continuing with this great hobby.

I'm many years in to pen making and I still have the odd failure, usually by being complacent and not following my standard method. Usually because of a bad day!. I have realised now that I'm better off not going in the shed then. So let your body talk to you and listen to it. If you aren't right then what out won't be right.

Keep it up.
 
Joined
Dec 14, 2017
Posts
1,105
Location
Lake District
First Name
Craig
Hi [MENTION=1780]Cumbrian Craig[/MENTION] it’s nice to see you back. It seems a while since I’ve seen you on here. :thumbs: Hope you still find time to turn.

Thank you Bill

Unfortunately life hasn't gone quite my way. However I'm back on the up and back in front of the lathe. Missed the forum and all the banter that comes with it. Great to see some of the items getting turned. Really pleased the forum is still up and running.. A couple of months mate and I will be calling for a refresher lesson:thumbs::thumbs:
 

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
10,997
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
Hi I
Thank you Bill

Unfortunately life hasn't gone quite my way. However I'm back on the up and back in front of the lathe. Missed the forum and all the banter that comes with it. Great to see some of the items getting turned. Really pleased the forum is still up and running.. A couple of months mate and I will be calling for a refresher lesson:thumbs::thumbs:
You’ll be most welcome my friend.:thumbs:
 
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