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Pen birthday

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
647
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
I made my first kit pen exactly a year ago today. It was actually a pencil because I needed one for my workshop. I was quite dismissive of pen making at the time if I’m honest but, as I don’t need to explain to anybody on here, it soon grabbed hold of me.

Before that my journey into wood turning started after I made an acoustic guitar. I spent 4 weeks in mid Wales where I learnt from an excellent luthier. I hired a little cottage on the river Severn (where it’s more of a stream as the location was very close to the source), and the experience was entirely life-changing.

When I got home I built a small workshop, initially with the intention of making acoustic guitars, however it soon became apparent that I didn’t really have the space required. So my carpenter friend suggested I get a lathe and so I did. I got heavily into bowl making and then the pen thing happened. I quickly developed an interest in making kitless pens because of the precision required. This is also true of guitar making where a fraction of a millimetre thickness can make the world of difference to the tonal qualities of the instrument. It’s a totally different experience to whacking a big lump of cherry on the lathe and cutting a bowl. However I do miss that so I tend to alternate between the two in waves. Currently I’m on quite a big pen wave!

Anyway here’s the guitar I made.

Cheers
Ash
B323CEF9-632D-4473-8AA3-7933C4B082F3.jpgBCF20A3D-4454-4B8E-93FA-B94DD1505371.jpgCD22AAC6-C068-4B1E-BA00-FB4D75095CE3.jpgA4B97749-A464-4CB7-A27E-206237E6095C.jpg
 

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
An excellent job you made of that Ash, it looks the business. Did you tune it yourself? can you play?
 

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
647
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
An excellent job you made of that Ash, it looks the business. Did you tune it yourself? can you play?

Thanks John. Yes I do play (open to debate) and yes the tuning etc. is all done by me. It basically started off looking like this:
BBD6EC64-3F0F-4C9B-9A44-6A6D13932ABB.jpg
 

alan morrison

Fellow
Joined
Feb 26, 2019
Posts
2,378
Location
Co. Down N Ireland
First Name
Alan
Lovely job with the acoustic, Ash.
I made an acoustic bass a couple of years ago and also a dulcimer from the left-over timber, but did not feel inspired to try any more. In rare moments I think that it would be good to attempt a mandolin but making pens seems so much quicker and as satisfying.
Anyway, you must have enjoyed the experience if you wanted to build a lot more.
Alan
 

ValleyBoy

Graduate Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
647
Location
Cardiff
First Name
Ash
Lovely job with the acoustic, Ash.
I made an acoustic bass a couple of years ago and also a dulcimer from the left-over timber, but did not feel inspired to try any more. In rare moments I think that it would be good to attempt a mandolin but making pens seems so much quicker and as satisfying.
Anyway, you must have enjoyed the experience if you wanted to build a lot more.
Alan

Thanks Alan
It’s quite a feeling making a musical instrument isn’t it? I’m assuming you play bass? We should set up a band called the PenMen or something :funny:

When I came back I was raring to go with the guitar making but reality got in the way! But I’m glad in a way as I agree that making pens is far more satisfying in terms of the immediacy of the result. However I would go back and repeat the experience and funnily enough I too would make a mandolin this time. I don’t play one but they are beautiful looking things!
Cheers
Ash
 

alan morrison

Fellow
Joined
Feb 26, 2019
Posts
2,378
Location
Co. Down N Ireland
First Name
Alan
Ash, as you know it's a great feeling when you put the strings on the first time, tune up and hear what the guitar that you made sounds like.
I posted a ( not very good ) picture of the bass that I made in the 'other things we make ' section around March last year if you are interested.

Well done with the pen making. You have a real aptitude for the craft.
I only turn timber pens and mostly in the winter as this time of year is devoted to gardening and our food production. I may turn one or two on wet days.
Take care. Alan
 
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