Making A Pen

Traditional Pen Turning

Making a pen is a process that I've come to really love and enjoy, even though there was a bit of a learning curve at first. Initially, I discovered the process while looking for something to fulfill my doctor’s orders. “Get a hobby” he said, and while I would certainly describe pen turning as a beloved hobby now, it wasn’t always that way.

My wife certainly remembers all of the equipment and materials arriving. I never do anything halfway, so I ordered new equipment, as well as a whole pile of pen making materials. I unpacked it all eagerly, ready to get started with pen turning.

Of course, pen turning is different than other woodworking projects. It took a few tries to get the hang of the technique and the process. I’ll confess that you may not have wanted to own some of my early models. Fortunately, I’ve mastered my technique, and now the process I follow creates beautiful pens time and time again.

Training My Eye

In addition to the technical craft skills, I also needed to train my eye. I have a lot of choices when it comes to making a pen. I needed to learn how to match wood textures to accent textures, and how to ensure that the whole thing pulled together visually.

I spent a lot of time putting pens together and taking them apart to see how the different colors and textures worked with each wood. When I added corian and acrylic parts, I did this again. Now I can choose coordinating materials easily, although I’m no longer afraid to take things apart if I’m not 100% satisfied with the final look.

Trusting My Tools

I’ve also learned to trust my tools. I love my Grizzly woodworking equipment, and all my Psi tools. And my lathe . . . well, I wouldn’t be anywhere if I didn’t have my lathe.

Learning More Techniques

Once I got the basic techniques mastered for making a pen, I set myself up to learn more. I love getting new skills, and I get a lot of industry specific materials to stay up to date and train.

My pens continue to become more unique and special, and you’ll always have the best I can make waiting for you here in my workshop.