Thread: Any pen types a beginner should avoid

I started on slimlines as they were the cheapest kits to learn on but there are some very well priced sierra's out there now which I think are a perfect kit to learn on. One short tube, easy to turn and put together. If I were starting out now I would be looking at the sierra's. I never really enjoyed the slimlines and can't recall the last time I made one.

As said before, slimlines are an easy pen to start on as well as sierras (good thing is you can turn two sierras in one go with two sets of bushings). When starting wood blanks are the easiest.

Good luck

The Sierra would be a good starting point for learning pens. I think most people start on slim lines and I feel they are the hardest to make as well. Especially if you go with clean straight lines as in bush to bush turning. Even though I still make them I tend to hate them with a passion, but they do teach you good tool control for the more expensive components that you may latter venture into.I have around 60 for a customer, 40 timber and 20 acrylic. As I said I do not like making them but what a customer wants, the customer shall receive.

I started on slimlines (and still do them), Fancy Slimline pen kits
cheap and let you learn. But I prefer streamlines,
Also cheap but have a thick centre band, 7mm Streamlines
Or make slimlines but throw centre band away and either don't use them or make one yourself in a contrasting wood any thickness/width you like.
I've been using aussie cedar or redgum.

Get a 5mm thick sheet, drill lots of 1/4 inch holes and then cut them into squares. Mount 15-20 on you mandril and turn them down to 12mm. That way you can make the pens a bit thicker.
I really hate those ones that get made as 2 barrels with a skinny waist.

You can also try making the blob at the tip end that kids seem to like and makes it a bit easier for them to hold.

Then you don't need extra bushings yet (the ones with the mandril will do these.
And the next step up is 5,6 bucks each.

If your going to practice and give them away the these are fine.
You can practice EEE finish, CA finish, even minmax dip them if you want.

Peter

My take is a bit different ,don't buy or make kits with mini refills such as teachers pens mini clicks credit card pens etc, not hard to make at all, but the refills are difficult for most people to get hold of and they tend to stop using them or if local keep hounding you for refills almost every other kit will use a standard cross refill ,parker style ,gel or rollerball ,which are standard and easily obtained .. My advice as a beginner is cut some cheap ( free) bits of plain timber to lengths for a pen blank ,but 2 inches would be fine ,drill a 1/4 inch hole through it ,that will slide on your mandrel between the standard slim bushes tighten up to stop it turning and away you go, you can get your skills up with tools and sandpaper to sizing to the bushes,and can't hurt a thing or cost a lot ,as you will be learning with no fear of damaging a tube you will be less nervous, and that will help to keep a steady hand ,do a few runs like that and then when you think you have got the hang of things ,your tools and speeds ,you can glue up some kits to tubes and away you go.Painless and almost costless ,no tubes to damage or wasted glue and time ,you'll be surprised just how quickly you can get onto any thing you want to do, practice is the name of the game here, cheers and have fun ~ John

My pick for the first kits would be the Sierra pen they are easy to turn and to put together. I started with the Streamline and soon learnt that they werent so easy to get right but everyone is different and also the knight and Cigar are easy to turn and put together good luck mate and we all cant wait to see your first lot of pens Ian

Thanks for the hints, I think I will give the Sierra a try, I prefer its appearance over the slimline
Cheers

Clint0 .You are now on the way to eternal bliss and expenditure. Welcome to the world of spending.