Carbatec pen turning kit - Worthwhile?

Hi everyone,

I will be building my lathe stand over the next 2 weekends, so this may be putting the cart ahead of the horse a bit...

I notice in carbatec's sale PDF that they have a pen turning kit for $61. It contains 5 blanks, pen mill, MAND-91 or MAND-92, PEN-1N and VS-BLUE/BLACK.

I would like to try pen turning once I am up and running, so would this be a good kit to buy? I know nothing about pen turning at this stage, so do I really need one of these kits, and if so is this good?

Cheers,
Nathan.

Pen turning is an addiction so if you don't want to end up like the rest of us STOP NOW!

The kit is OK, I started with Carba-tec gear and if I had been able to stop at 1 or 2 pens a week it would have been OK but at 6.......12 a night I have replaced the mandrel with a stronger one from Trend Timbers and a HSS mill from I think Carrolls.

Ross

Nathan sounds like a good starters kit starter to me but I am not sure what the vs blue and black is. SOme one else might though
but the main tools are covered...pens, wood, mandrel and mill and bushes
bye Toni


PS I do agree with Ross it a very expensive addiction. Today I was out of pens and I literally had to go and chase down the truck to get a fix..LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lubbing5cherubs

I am not sure what the vs blue and black is. Some one else might though

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Blue or Black Velvet Sleeves for Pens :D

:doh: of course so simple now you explained:- :D

G'day Nathan,
I may be stating the obvious, but the one item that I found helpful in pen turning has not yet been mentioned, and that is chisels. I started off with a cheap set of chisels. The reason being is that I saw the price of quality chisels and decided to hone my sharpening skills(sorry, couldn't resist the pun) on the cheap ones, then progress to good ones.
Good luck with the addiction. It is worse than drugs. One pen, even from junk wood, and you are hooked for life. Next thing you know, you will thinking that your neighbor might not notice that missing fence plank. You will notice wood that you have never seen before like in very old buildings and start to wonder how you get appropriate some of it. Make sure one of your first pens is specifically for your wife. Trust me, it pays great dividends when the missus, also known as the fiscal appropriations committee approves of your expenditures.

Cheers,

Rick

If you give your wife the first good pen that you make she will cherish it. But even more important is that she won't quibble when you start wanting better equipment and more supplies. (which you will!!!!)

I also agree that the Carbatec kit is a very good starting point.

Ken

Old thread valid question and answers.Join a club and ask around first though.I left Mt Gambier in 1938 so I have no idea on current clubs your way. But it is worthwhile making haste slowly just now,find your way.Good luck.

Peter.

There are lots of you tube videos on pen making. They are worth having a look at to get an idea of what is involved