Turned first pen tonight - Woodworking Talk

tl_foster · 10-31-2009, 12:50 AM

I have had a Delta 1460 Lathe for a couple of months but only got into my new shop a couple of weeks ago. I am a novice turner and had never turned anything until I started playing with the Delta in the garage a couple of months ago. Mainly I was just trying the different chisels to learn how to use them. This afternoon I picked up a pen turning kit at Rockler and turned my first pen and a handle for the pen mill tonight. What can I say, I had a blast!! I had some scrap oak lying about and didn't want to start out with bubinga or blood wood or other exotic wood that came with the kit until I had practiced a little. So they are not very fancy but here they are:

Sorry about the quality of the pictures but you get the idea anyway. I finished these witha Minnwax Maple and rubbed on some polyurethane (SP?). Can't wait to try some more.

Lamar

Dvoigt · 10-31-2009, 10:09 AM

Looks good. The hard part is stopping!! The possibilities are endless now.

Chad · 10-31-2009, 10:16 AM

Looks very nice to me , good job.

Jeff4woodturning · 10-31-2009, 10:34 AM

Its all over but the crying, your hooked on turning and welcome to our world.

Very nice job on pen and handle. what finish did you use on your pen? have fun and be safe.

Kenbo · 10-31-2009, 11:40 AM

A first pen turning claims another victim in the world of turning addicts. Believe me, that's not a bad thing. Great job on the pen and handle. I'm not sure that I understand the handle for the pen mill. I use mine on a low speed in a cordless drill so I guess the handle would not be needed for my use. Either way, a great job on both. Keep em coming!
Ken

Dvoigt · 10-31-2009, 12:55 PM

There is a group of people out there that stand by the statement that a pen mill is a hand tool..... I say if it fits in a power tool, why not use it in there! I find it alot easier to have it in the drill press or the lathe.

tl_foster · 10-31-2009, 01:40 PM

Thanks folks! I think I'm hooked. Trying to decide if I have time to do one before I have to leave again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenbo

...I'm not sure that I understand the handle for the pen mill. I use mine on a low speed in a cordless drill so I guess the handle would not be needed for my use. Either way, a great job on both. Keep em coming!
Ken

The pen mill that came with my kit had threads on the shaft for a handle. The instructions said, "You can turn your own", so I did. I will probably get another to use in a drill without the threads, but this one works pretty good as a hand tool.

Lamar

jdixon · 10-31-2009, 03:06 PM

Lamar, be careful you are treading in dangerous water!

Pen turning soon turns into more and more turning. Soon all your money is going toward new chisels and gouges, a bigger lathe etc. Nice job on the pen and handle though. They certainly can be addictive!

John

Eugene In NC · 11-01-2009, 01:18 AM

Lamar, welcome to the vortex. Nice job on the pen and handle.

lumber jock · 11-01-2009, 04:13 AM

I wish my first pens looked like that.

Welcome to the addiction.

Kenbo · 11-01-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tl_foster

The pen mill that came with my kit had threads on the shaft for a handle. The instructions said, "You can turn your own", so I did.

It just goes to show what a novice I am at turning. I didn't even know that they could be used as a hand tool.

That's cool. Thanks for setting me straight on that one. I still think that you did a great job on both the pen and the handle. Stop beating around the bush and jump into some exotic woods now. You know you can do it!!!!

Ken