Turning Wood

Creates Beautiful Pen Turning Products

Turning wood is just one part of woodworking. The field of woodworking covers a lot of territory. The term can be applied to projects large and small. Turning also covers a big area because the techniques are used to build furniture and other larger items. But the art and craft of wood turning has also been applied to the detailed work of pen turning, something that I love and devote a lot of time to.

Turning Techniques

Some of the craftsmen who've become quite skilled have been attracted to wood turning precisely because of the beautiful pens they saw that were produced by someone else. As I learned more about this, I decided to use the turning techniques to make my own unique pens.

The method or technique that's part of creating wonderful pens is spindle turning. However, the basic method for spindle turning doesn't always require hollowing. It can be used for table legs, pedestals, even such large objects as utility poles!

My craft requires quite a bit of hand work, of course. But I use a number of quality power tools to produce these fine, unique writing instruments. In the end, my pens are handcrafted in the true sense of the word. Most of the finish work is done by hand. I also give a lot of time to choosing and applying the plating and clips to match the wood type.

Here are a few of the tools used to produce quality wood items:

• Shaping tools such as a lathe. This tool design has been used for centuries and in the early years the rotating motion had to be done by hand!
• Cutting and drilling tools specifically used to create the unique pen barrels from beautiful wood.

Of course, with experience I've learned to use the correct tool to cut, drill, turn and shape each individual pen so that it's both a work of art and a sturdy writing instrument.

Pen turning also has a few unique requirements when it comes to turning wood.

• Making a leg for a piece of furniture or a custom pen calls for a drill press or another way to put the necessary holes in the piece.
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• Makers of custom, handcrafted pens must also have a way to hold the wood steady, so a secure but delicate vice is necessary.

Turning wood is both a craft and an art, especially when applied to the creation of small, delicate, and beautiful items such as handcrafted pens.