Thread: Pen Making

Just, buy some pen kits, probably start with some slimlines first, then progress to whatever you think you like. Amos

My recommendation would be to buy a pack of slimline kits from someone like Jim Carroll. About $18 for 5, I think. (??)

I'm pretty sure that when you buy a standard basic 7mm mandrel it comes with the bushes for a slimline, so the only extras needed to get going are the mill and 7mm drill. (That's besides the consumables like wood, glue, etc. and a lathe, of course!)

From there, once you've had a bit of practise, you can buy extra bushes, and the larger mandrel, mill etc. as and when you need them for the fancier kits.

Or decide you don't like it, in which case you've wasted the least outlay.

yep I agree go to Carrols and he has a pen beginners kits. IT comes with 5 pen blanks, a pen mandrel and bushs, and CA glue and finish and pen mill it is everything that you need to make a pen
Toni

The kit from Carrols would be the way to go or maybe as you live in Canberra atrip to your localCarbatec Andy and Russel will look after you.

Looked after me just fine on my recent trip to Canberra

Well I am going to go the other way, if I had my way I would have started with cigars first. I know a dearer kit but one of less tolerences. You still turn to the bushing sizes, but if you go with the slim line there are finer tolerences in the turning and if new at pen crafting I feel a better chance of stuffing up. That is just my opinion though.
Darren

If you go slimlines you could always purchase additional tubes and use those as practice. I think 10 tubes are about $3.00. That whay if you make a mistake you can turn up a new tube or two and still use the remainder of the kits.

I started by buying a 10 pack of cheap slimline kits from Timbecon and a mandrel kit with bushes. very cheap way to start out. Best investment I made otherwise is a 6mm spindle gouge to help with the fine detail... I only had larger tools for general spindle work and found them a bit cumbersome for the small work.