Thread: Aspiring Penturner.

Hi and welcome to an/the addiction it can be tamed.

you have pretty much listed all your needs a few exceptions main ones being turning tools, the wood and pen kits

These will dictate the size type and style of pen.

Looks like you in the US so you have a big selection of lathes for pen turning lathes specificly or a lathe you can use for other things also.

Others will chime in with their 2c worth

Welcome to the foumrs!

I second what Wheelin said. I would add buy slowly and buy quality - it's not what I did and I wish I had.

Quality chisels are a must, as is a good sharpening system. A reasonable bench grinder/alox wheel and a jig are all that's needed when starting out but they will help you a lot. Especially for a beginner, a sharpening jig will help you get a consistent and sharp grind which will help you learn a lot faster. Some here don't like jigs, but they have been doing it for years (sharpening and turning), so can get it right and compensate if they don't - I can't do either

The bandsaw, etc are important but you can start without them. There are plenty of places that sell pen blanks and while it is very expensive to do it that way, the blanks as a rule are nice and dry and usually very interesting wood. Hang around these forums as well as pen blanks are sold every so often.

A mechanism for drilling dead straight evey time is essential though otherwise you'll just be frustrated, so the drill press will be at the top of the list. An alternative is to use a jacobs chuck in the lathe and plenty of people around here do just that.

The lathe is obviously important. Make sure the centres line up on the one you buy (not just the display model) or you'll be in for years of frustration. A mini lathe is good for pens, but beware - there are lots of other things that can be made on the lathe and you never know which bug will strike! You might find yourself wishing you could turn larger bowls, etc. If you're new to it, find a local woodturning club and have a go. If you've got some experience, still do that, but you'll have more of an idea of what you like by now.

Oh, we're all nuts around here as a rule, so stay, read a lot, contribute a little and most importantly, post piccies of your work!

Cheers,
Dave

If you can afford it, get QUALITY first up-it is the cheapest option in the long run.
A VicMarc VL100 variable speed Lathe, A 14" Bandsaw(that way you can cut logs to blanks.) A good drill press. A quality sharpening system for the tools, A Drill Doctor for the drill bits, get the one that can do large bits also- it will pay for itself quickly if you use large bits. You could use any el cheapo and get it done, I've seen some very ingenious turning, but if you can afford it go for the best. Amos

G'day Gragian and welcome to the slippery slide to poverty.

Wheelin and OZkaban have covered jut about everything. My 2cs worth is to stick with basic tools at the moment. A roughing gouge and a spindle gouge will get you started nicely.

You nearly always get what you pay for so be careful and not buy big sets of things that are full of things you will never use. I did.
It is handy to have metric and imperial drill bits. You will also need a pen mill for squaring your blanks when glued.
A good face mask and dust protector are a must. Don't buy cheap as they don't last and scratch easy. The dust protector is not for swine flu ( thats what my kids thought...) but some of the woods you might turn can make you quite ill.
And last but not least, you will need mastercard/visa with a huge limit cos once you start you just can't get enough. You will buy every different finishing product under the sun and at least three different glues, sheets and sheets of sandpaper and more blanks and kits than you will ever use but you justify it because " the postage was the same for one or ten"
Let the fun begin and good luck
Kim
PS. The knowledge that is shared on this forum, you will find invalueable and don't be scared to ask any question. The only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked.

Originally Posted by gragian

Lathe (mini is fine, I would think)
Drill Bits
Drill press or drill chuck
Saw (band saw or hacksaw?)
Grinder
Some kind of dust management
I'm sure I'm missing something, but if I could get information/advice/recommendations as to good manufacturers, vendors, etc for any/all of those items, I would be much appreciative. I'd like to stay on some kind of (low) budget, but I won't sacrifice quality for price.
Thanks much!

Hi gragian and Welcome .

• first of all how are you going to finish them ,Wipe on poly , Friction polish etc

• Ebay is a good place for blanks until you build up some stock or a list of suppliers ,

• You might need a few Pen kits as well { they seem to help } Rhizengs from china are a good learning tool and stuffing a few wont kill the Visa,

• I would advise a set of micro-mesh and a set of sandpaper to a decent grit ( I use up to 2000 )
• I would also get some stuff from U-Beaut , some EEE and Shellawax
• I couldn't,t worry too much about the dust in the short term as doing pens is a little less dusty then bowl turning ( unless your turning rock or something ) just make sure you have some sort of ventilation happening
• With your tools Buy at least HSS ( I brought a set of smallies from David at Timberbits and don't use anything else now , I found the price right and the quality good until you know what you want and how to sharpen them right
• Grinder is good ( and a wet one too if possible ) and a sharpening jig of some sort . Make sure you've got the right sharpening wheels for the HSS tools
• I have a 10 " Band saw but only use it to break down bigger stuff ( mainly use the Chainsaw and Bench saw for the big stuff and use a hand mitresaw to gut the blanks to length
• You'll definitely need a barrel trimmer
• and I would look seriously at getting a pen press ( will pay for itself in no time }
• and last but not least decent glue ( I use titebond Poly and I would get some fast and slow CA glue
• I forgot you must have a Amex Platinum and an understanding Partner as well { until you start bringing home the goodies
• Patience it will take a little while for everything to fall into place but it's worth it

If you have any questions or need some clarification drop us an email also if you want I can put you onto a decent supplier of stock wood although it might cost a bit in freight to the US { occasionally some really exciting stuff )

Hi and welcome to the forum. I can't add much to what has already been said here but beware, pen turning is very addictive.

all I can add is! That stash of moneyyou hide from the wife so you can sneak to the pub for a few beers will be gone forever.

Cheers Ian