introduction to pen turning - but a different way

[@alansmith477]

Thank you for your refreshing honesty

[@michaelalexander2246]

As a machinist this makes perfect sense. Whenever people tell me that I have to use this special something I always find another way. You did a brilliant job of that. Thank you

[@bobhepple5752]

Been a Hobyist/modeller all my life I have a machinist lathe lying around and have just decided to make a pen kit found your video ,looking at the processes and found it very informative, just starting out in the world of pen kits don't know how long it will keep my interest but you've made the first steps easier, don't have all the kit so using what I have Thank you

[@stanleyshapiro7605]

FANTASTIC presentation... you're quite an inspiration to those of us that 👍 admire thinking outside the box.

[@prokraftuk]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mikegoldfine9152]

I've been a wood turner for many years and I have never been interested in pen turning, but my son who is a woodturning beginner expressed an interest in trying pen turning and I agreed to work with him on it when he comes to visit in the Fall. I therefore much appreciated your no-nonsense low cost approach and also that the pen you suggested was actually quite nice. This will be a perfect starting point for my son. Thank you for the helpful tips and a great presentation!

[@dleighhunte]

The honesty got me too. I ordered halfway through the video. Ballpoint and fountain pen. My first pen turning experience was this weekend with the slimline kit. I did not use a mandrel because one could not be fitted on my cheap parkside lathe. It did however turn out a basic pen. I was looking for something that would be impressive. I think I have a better chance now. Thanks

[@greenzx9r]

Fantastic! This is the most useful pen turning video i've seen. Thank you.

[@prokraftuk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juvat2440]

Thank you, Very Much. An abundance of how to unscrew the mistakes I might make without condemning the whole project. I'll be referring back to this video quite often. Thanks again, juvat

[@daveprice9912]

This video and your approach to spending money has made me by some kits off yourself - great stuff - keep it up

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks Dave, I hope you enjoy the kits they are on the way!

[@daveprice9912]

@@prokraftuk first oak pen done, trying to send a photo. used the wood chuck - no issues!!

[@BrushartSigns]

What a really helpful video, I, like many, am just a beginner and was being put off the idea of having a go at pen turning due to the apparent high set up costs for something that I may only do now and again. I really like the approach that Prokraft take and have now watched several of their videos which explain things clearly and show that you don't need loads of equipment to produce very good results. I would also add that having now bought some of their kits am very impressed by the quality of their products.

[@gavinwilson1494]

Excellent! A most refreshing approach to the craft. Look forward to future videos.

[@prokraftuk]

Thank you very much!

[@wsherratt5159]

Many thanks for taking the time and effort putting this guide together. As a person about to unpack my first lathe, you gave me some good ideas and practical advice on the type of kit to purchase that won’t break the bank and be practical in other applications. Keep up the great work 👍

[@michaelj2439]

How refreshing: honesty! Thank you, I can’t wait to send you my order. Liked & subscribed.

[@stuartfordham8090]

As Michael (below) I too am a machinist, and when someone tells me I "must have " x y or z I will find another method. brilliant video and approach. thank you kindly, I have bought a Rollster kit from you with very pleasing results . I also bought two more Rollsters and the fountain pen versions which I will start on as gifts to give out at my wedding. to the best man etc etc. Thanks again.

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks Stuart - glad you enjoyed the kits.

[@travissmith7471]

Your demonstrations were much needed... Thanks for sharing... Very very helpful...

[@andreenegren4876]

J'ai essayé cette méthode pour mon premier stylo tourné. Sans mandrin, avec un tour à bois premier prix. J'ai mis du temps, surtout pour percer le carrelet (perceuse sur support). J'ai arrondi le carrelet à la disqueuse pour diminuer les frottements. Surprise : ça marche finalement très bien, soit avec les "bushings", soit avec des bagues en bois. Je suis le premier surpris. Très bonne vidéo. Très bon modèle Rollester. In other words : this method works surprisingly well, even with complete beginners if you take your time.

[@devinwelborn5211]

Thank you for your advice. I am interested in getting started in turning and am only interested in pens for personal use. I like fountain pens and would like to make one. I think your set up will work fine. Thanks again.

[@michaellionart4841]

How good is this! Just had my introductory lesson on lathe turning and I made a slimline pen using everything that you just discounted. Thank You 🙏

[@760raduran]

Getting ready to turn my first pen. You have saved me a good a amount of money. More importantly, where I live, most items can not be shipped. (island in Alaska). Thanks again.

[@prokraftuk]

Have fun!

[@LesJames57]

Excellent, I to have the useless Sorby carbide. Loved your delivery.

[@prokraftuk]

Thank you!

[@charruauno386]

Thank you for sharing. My opinion; you would be a good technical school professor. Good explanations, good video and very nice pen. I do not have a wood turning lathe, however, I have metal turning lathe and I use it for both metal and wood and my pens happened to be the same type of your pen. Keep up the good work, and have a nice day.

[@madelinewhick7467]

Thank you for a so informative and entertaining video! I'm making my pens out of clay but found your info on assembly and disassembly VERY helpful as I am a newbie to the craft. I look forward to watching more of your videos and visiting your website.

[@davidredfern5038]

What video , at 74 just bought a lathe a Record power 250. Well going to try pens once I have some skills. THANKS

[@johnpbh]

Thanks for giving the site for the arbour blanks Jon. Mine now ordered. Well I do have a few pen kits from you to do.... :) :) :)

[@anthonygray9522]

great stuff john very well presented

[@prokraftuk]

Thank you kindly

[@sk13ppy]

Thank you! I don't own a drill press, I use a jacob chuck to drill my blanks on my lathe. I have turned a few streamline pens before changing over to streamline kits. I managed to disassemble half of my first ever streamline pen, now I know how to remove the pen clip end even though I don't have pen jaws, I will use my pin jaws. I do have a barrel trimmer but recently saw another video and now mount a sanding disk on my lathe and can sand the end of my blanks by using a mandrel, leaving a gap between the mandrel and sanding disk I manually slide the blank over towards the sanding disk. I have 5 or 6 streamline kits left to make and may venture into other styles of kits. Just a bummer that I have to buy a new drill bit and new bushings for new kits. I will turn my own dead centre asap too. Cheers!

[@prokraftuk]

The reason there are lots of drills and bushings is to provide a variety of kits, there are some suppliers who have similar bushings for all kits and the kits are all pretty much the same size but that doesn't necessarily suit the pen user - some like slim pens and others fat ones. You don't have to buy bushings you can turn manually and measure the diameters, it is quite a slow & delicate process but can get you a better fit when you are practised at it. Bushings are a guide not an essential. You do however need the right size drill - try putting a Parker style refill into a streamline pen kit and you will see why the tubes are different and you need a different drill!

[@richjones5432]

Fantastic ..... common sense is alive & well. I have wanted to dabble with pens for a while, but as you say everyone wants me to shell out £100 before I make my first one. Thank you for this.

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks Rich - you should be able to do this with any single barrel pen kit - but hopefully a Prokraft one 😁

[@richjones5432]

@@prokraftuk Given your honest & none dramatic style of explaining I will definately make you my first port of call. After waiting about 45 years I have only just got my hands on a lathe. I was lucky to have to great woodwork teachers & I caught the bug at 13. Life took over, so first thing I bought once retired was a lathe. We will talk again at some point. Stay healthy.

[@stuartlockwood9645]

Hi Jon☺ what a great video this is , no fluff , good instruction, spot on crisp, up close camera work, I'm just getting into this hobby, and this has saved me a lot of time and money, many thanks, I will be looking at your Web site, stay safe mate, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart.uk.

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks Stuart, much appreciated. Jon

[@denisebat6892]

Very nice that you used the lathe for everything. Now why don't you make some alignment pieces that the pen parts fit into that keep them in line while assembling? I think that would help.

[@rodneynelson7612]

Good job, thanks enjoyed the video, how to

[@kendavidson6755]

You are quite right thank you Ken

[@johnowens5751]

Excellent presentation

[@prokraftuk]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@paz2263]

That was very enjoyable and useful. I was thinking of buying a pen assembly press, I'm not now thanks...

[@prokraftuk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ChesneyAdventures]

lol.. I WAS THINKING BORING TOO FOR THE SLIMLINE. lOVE YOUR PROSPECTIVE.

[@johnemmons9087]

Great video.

[@prokraftuk]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mickbouchier]

A wonderful Demo, dismantling a pen was also very interesting. If I may make two comments, firstly in relation to the spraying of the acccelerator into the tube to speed up hardening of the glue, this has no advantage as it cannot make contact with the glue, the glue being between the outside of the brass tube and the wood! The other is to use use scrap pieces of teak as a pen press, turning down to a suitable morse tapers and making two holes for the pen in each( a slightly larger hole for the clip end!

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks for the input - I use the accelerator to seal the ends so I can sand straight away - while the inside is setting on it's own. The main reason I use it is because I get the damn stuff everywhere - usually on my fingers and then I can't unlock my phone with the fingerprint reader. There are many ways of making your own pen press I couldn't agree more - all of them better than paying for a hideously expensive manufactured one 👍

[@mickbouchier]

@@prokraftuk Thank you so much for your response, I fully appreciate the problem with the glue. Excellent Demo, very clearly delivered!👍

[@peterelson245]

Nicely explained, I would suggest that for pressing the pen together you could use wood stops at each end of the lathe.

[@nurseboy9999]

the plastic bag trick to dismantle is genius I have spent hours on the floor looking

[@jackhaney628]

Great video introduction for someone who has never used a lathe. I've done watchmaking and discovered that there a lot of single use tools that aren't necessary if I use the basic tools wisely.

[@prokraftuk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SuperBeardall]

Great demo. Thank you for sharing.

[@michaelplatt3719]

I bought some plastic off eBay for about £2 and turned things like your arbour blanks. The plastic does not damage the pen kit parts.

[@prokraftuk]

I use Acetal rod mounted into an arbour blank for rigidity but if you can buy a few bits and save spending £50 on a pen press that is great news. There are always lots of ways to do these things and half the fun is in the experimentation!

[@ericmilligan3]

Thanks Jon, just opened an account and bought some gear. 👍👍

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks Eric, hope you enjoy the kits.

[@andybaggs2493]

thankyou very informative and a great help

[@prokraftuk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@armdaMan]

Hello from down below the pond in South Africa. Thanks for sharing this most informative video. Much appreciated as we are wanting to start out Pen Turning. Regretfully, Arc Euro Trade don't stock MT 1 Blank-End Arbors. Is there anywhere else we could source these TIA ATB TC aRM

[@prokraftuk]

In UK they are available here: www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/soft-blank-end-arbor-1mt-tang-end/ I only use arbour blank for pressing together, you could probably make your own ends to press kits together quite easily. Hope that helps.

[@armdaMan]

@@prokraftuk Thanks a zillion. Yes, We have already seen their stocks.

[@galoisdirac3024]

Great video! Can you advise on the wood cutting tool introduced at 18:05? Can you recommend one for turning this size wood?

[@prokraftuk]

It is one of my favourite tools and I had to look up what it was as they are rarely included in sets now - I believe it is called a continental spindle gouge and mine is about 22mm - I think Robert Sorby do a 19mm and a 25mm. My advice for the tools to use is the one you find the most comfortable, we are all different and so is our choice for tools. I hope that helps, Jon.

[@composer1663]

Nicely done! I love your practicality, and I share your dislike of slimline pen kits.

[@prokraftuk]

I am so glad to hear it isn't just me!

[@eddiestipe4768]

This is a great idea, so versatile. Thank you for sharing. I would love to order one. BUT can you ship to the US yet?

[@prokraftuk]

Yes we have an order already on its way to LA, we send to US regularly.

[@jimking9646]

Very Nice

[@gman561]

I can’t say much but am like you doing it my why with out trying to spend, for stuff that is commence great video 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🍺

[@pikeevans8559]

Interesting.

[@OurFrenchHouseRenovation]

great demo, ordered a couple to try out as i'm new to wood turning, what would these sell at? don't want to undersell them.. thanks

[@prokraftuk]

It depends on what you make them with and the finish and where you sell them but for a plain one I would guess at around £20, but you could spend over £20 on a burl blank and then get much more. It is a very difficult question! See if you can find someone who does craft fairs and see what they think.

[@OurFrenchHouseRenovation]

@@prokraftuk Thanks, I thought around £20 and maybe a little more for resin ones... cheers

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

You dont needca belt sander either. To bring the blank flush with the brass insert you face it off on the lathe!

[@prokraftuk]

No you are right, I have done another video using the lathe, we try to offer some guides and options as to how it can be done, there is never only 1 way to do things.

[@larryjacobs5713]

How can you decide if you like turning pens when the experience of doing it W/O equipment would be miserable?

[@prokraftuk]

It is not a miserable experience, I turn pens without a mandrel whenever possible because it is A] more accurate B] gets a better result C] is quicker than fitting a mandrel and the parts on it.

[@ericwatt1447]

Hi there am a buyer of your PREMIUM CHROME LETTER OPENER - PROKRAFT PKR LET2 am now away to buy some pens from you as am fed up of the slimline ones as well used to be good sellers but there not now

[@prokraftuk]

Thanks Eric, I hope you enjoy the rollesters - we too are stopping our slimline pens apart from the new Chaucer kits. We will have some more new kits later in the year but hopefully you will find a few unusual kits in our range - we do our best to be a bit different and it's all about individuality. Cheers, Jon

[@missteeturns]

Great pen Jon. I'll try one for my Model T Ford WheelSpoke pens. Do they come in black and gold?

[@prokraftuk]

Gold or gunmetal, we have a few chrome ones - more on their way soon

[@dermotkelly2289]

Good vid. Who do you sell them to and how do you advertise? Thank you so much

[@prokraftuk]

We sell this range of pens at www.prokraft.co.uk KZbin is our only platform to show what we do, how it works and we hope it shows a real kit -what you see on the video is what you will find a picture of on our site - no stock photos and we test everything we sell.

[@brian2browder]

Do ship to the US

[@prokraftuk]

Yes we send lots over to US - just select it from the country list on the basket page of the website. If you are not sure just send us a message from the website. Jon

[@paultay23]

Thanks Jon, nice one. Am i missing something I can't see the links.. Cheers Paul

[@prokraftuk]

They are just at the end of the video, I can't add a link it's the web address only

[@paultay23]

@@prokraftuk Just shows you should watch till the end... would you believe it, Arc Euro Trade are in the NEXT village to me...

[@prokraftuk]

Lucky you, we have nothing near here - if you wanted to save even more you could make your own parts to press pens together - the video could have gone on and on and on.

[@telstraoranamall7680]

I like those kits I'm in Australia where can i get them

[@prokraftuk]

We ship worldwide and regularly send orders to Aus. the link to the kits is here: www.prokraft.co.uk/rollester-rollerball-pen-kit.html

[@OurFrenchHouseRenovation]

Hi I bought a couple of these off you, but Im finding it impossible to find a 9.5 drill bit as you say is needed.. any suggestions please? cheers

[@prokraftuk]

They are usually quite easy to get and do come in drill sets very often - but we also sell them as well the link to our is: www.prokraft.co.uk/hss-drill-bit-range.html I hope that helps. Jon.

[@kendavidson6755]

Hi great video but arceuotrade .co.uk cannot be found Regards Ken

[@prokraftuk]

Ken I think you left the "r" out - try this: www.arceurotrade.co.uk/

[@denisebat6892]

Actually, once the drill has started drilling, 1 inch maybe, then you are able to push the drill in by hand.

[@itsyaboitom1636]

wish I saw this video a long time ago! already bought a pen mill, pen press, and a pen drilling jig. and you showed none of those are needed.

[@WattWood]

Be nice to have you do a toolbox pencil kit , Also where can i get a Jacobson chuck for my older than I am Nu-Tool lathe ?

[@prokraftuk]

If we ever sell one of the kits I will do a video. You can get a jacobs chuck from Arceurotrade or Chronos engineering in UK, probably lots of other places too. You need to find what size morse taper your lathe has, probably MT1 or MT2 (there are bigger but they are not common on hobby sized lathes). It will be easier if you get a chuck with the morse taper already with it as you can buy them separately. I hope that helps.

[@boatbeard7767]

£65 for one kit landed in Oz... Was really keen until the pricing and postage became apparent.

[@prokraftuk]

Price for 1 kit posted to Australia is £17.05 (26.08.21) however sending 1 small item is rarely cost effective, the postage cost is higher than the kit price.

[@boatbeard7767]

@@prokraftuk yep. If I want volume then more than 10 kits per order isn't too bad - but kind of set me back initially given I was more just wanting to try out one or two initially... Postage and freight costs in general have risen dramatically in the last few years for us here in Oz. Not helped by our govt deciding to tax imports of any value including secondhand to protect corporate interests... The costs to get the kits to me is nothing to do with the seller, outside of our control entirely.

[@ArciNemico]

this is an extreme amount of effort and at least a thousand dollars worth of extra chucks to avoid buying a $25 mandrel

[@prokraftuk]

I only use one chuck, and I didn't need to use that either, I made my own drive (free). I am not suggesting people don't buy a mandrel just maybe have a go without one to make sure you like making pens before buying one. $1000 of chucks? I think you need to find a better tool supplier, a dead centre is $6 which is what I suggested.

[@gregeastman6662]

its hard to beleave that you dont markup the pen with the jaws,just a plastic bag is not enought to keep the jaws from biting in to the wood leaving marks

[@calebfink3542]

I just recently got into pen turning, and I have to say the mandrel and bushings are one of the least nonsense pieces of equipment you can buy, all the other stuff adds only a bit of convenience. Then again i already had a band saw, sander, and drill press

[@prokraftuk]

The point I am making is that pen mandrels only do 1 job, if you buy one and don't like turning pens you have wasted your money - if you like it great - then go and buy one. Bandsaws and sanders etc are multi-purpose pieces of equipment used for many projects.

[@calebfink3542]

@@prokraftuk I agree. I didn't word it well, but what I meant is if you decide you like it, and want to invest in equipment a pen mandrel will give you the greatest return on that investment. It cuts down on time, especially for multiple barreled pens. I hope this makes sense.

[@mfs5493]

9.5 mm is so close to ⅜" as not to matter (less than a thou less). Use a ⅜" drill, fellas, and forget the 9.5 mm (which will most likely cost a heck of a lot more).

[@prokraftuk]

We generally no longer us imperial measurements in UK, some common sizes in imperial measurements are inexpensive, unusual sizes are very expensive. to save confusion we only use mm sizing whereas other suppliers mix and match imperial and metric. As an example is a slimline pen 7mm or 9/32" ?

[@robertschaeffer5861]

Minimalist, the best with the least...thank you...

[@tontotoronto7460]

You talk entirely too much. Just get on with it....

[@prokraftuk]

KZbin is fitted with a button so you can fast forward