Pen Turning - Getting Started

[@adamb2619]

What a great video. I essentially acquired a whole pen turning hobby from a neighbor and look forward to unpacking everything. I love that you only need a small piece of wood to make some memorable keepsakes.

[@roncalverley]

Hi Adam, Please enjoy your new found hobby. Although I 've spent the last 5 years at the model table, I often think back to the hundreds of hours spent at the lathe. 😊

[@PirlKnighte]

This was incredibly informative and easy to follow. Thanks for putting it together for us Ron! I've been interested in getting started for a while now, and will have the opportunity to start buying equipment soon. This was very helpful in planning out what I will need. Thanks!

[@roncalverley]

.... and thank you for watching and taking out the time to comment :)

[@ergia4822]

Thank you for putting in a lot of effort to explain pen turning. I can see you're sincere in trying to cover all the details. Thank you. May you excel even further in making superb high quality pens.

[@roncalverley]

Thank you for watching and commenting :)

[@wood4nothing284]

Thanks for all the good info I'm just starting out and the information you gave was very useful . Cheers Tim from Wood 4 Nothing

[@shimon6689]

Thank you Ron for this great video

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for watching and commenting. 👍

[@StevieJack]

“The first pen you turn is going to be expensive, the second pen you turn is only going to be a couple bucks.” Yes, I got a lathe, then a pen kit, umm, then I had to buy a lot of unexpected things, should be fun, thanks for the video Ron, will be watching a few times I’m sure.

[@roncalverley]

Yes, and I forgot to mention your preferred turning tool. Mine is, as you've likely already noticed, is just a scraper. Then you gotta keep it sharp. Will it ever end, lol :)

[@StevieJack]

Day after the new lathe I bought an 8 piece starter chisel set for $50, not sure how long they will last, but works for now.

[@roncalverley]

Good enough for turning pens, I'm sure :)

[@danhaniff1157]

Steve the next thing you have to buy is a grinding machine to sharpen your gouges...lol.

[@muathalha1532]

You explained everything clearly and that what I need. Thanks sir

[@roncalverley]

Thank you for watching and commenting :)

[@indianatone218]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us ,this is something i may try a bit further down the line , Greetings from Wales UK . ive liked and subd you ,looking forward to watching your other vids .

[@roncalverley]

👍

[@debwilson9815]

This is really easy to understand, thank you.

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for watching and commenting Deb. Your first pen, as you've likely surmised, will be expensive. But the next ones will be cheap. Have fun! :)

[@MrPete1x]

Thank you for a great video

[@roncalverley]

🙂👍

[@mikebarnstable7038]

With the wenge I turn the pen then put it in the bleach then rinse let dry then sand. I tried to bleach the blank first but it didn't go all the way through. Glad you tried it.

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for suggesting it Mike. As I just replied to Walt (Walt gave me this wenge) I was just thinking about this bleaching process this morning. Wondering about just how deep into the wood the bleach penetrates. Also thinking that perhaps if I was to do a 3 step combination of vacuum-chamber/pressure-pot /vacuum-chamber, could full penetration be achieved. Perhaps the bleach might suddenly boil when it would reach full vacuum. Don't know. I have to do some experimenting. Also I imagine that the fumes given off the bleach when it's under vacuum would not be too healthy. I have a really bad habit of getting sidetracked, and and I want to finish the pepper mill first --- hopefully today :)

[@WoodyWillisIII]

Just the info i needed. Thx for the info.

[@roncalverley]

👍

[@BobHancy]

Hi Ron ~ I turned my first pen today. I used cedar. It splintered. I tried again. It splintered again. I invested over $1500 in everything I needed...didn't think about which wood would be easier to start on. I thought I was being careful...is cedar something I should avoid till I get better? Thank you Ron - see you tomorrow! :-)

[@roncalverley]

Holy Cow!!! Disaster on your first two! How discouraging! I've had very few blowouts in pen turning. Can't even remember. I have know idea what may have gone wrong for you Bob. If you watch my pen turning videos you'll notice that I just use a "sharp" scraper. Try a hardwood blank. Don't be aggressive. If you were my neighbour you could come over (wearing your mask of course, lol) and I'd be happy to show you how I do it. Do you live in a city where there is a turning club? Usually turners are anxious to help out. 🤞🙂

[@paintilludrop]

I am a new turning also.. Just made a cedar pen. My tips from teacher..cedar is soft, go slow, easy, mine also cracked, we used super glue and sawdust..filled in Crack. It worked! Use hard wood ..

[@waynegutschmidt7586]

Thank you for the video.

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for watching and commenting Wayne 🙂

[@nickrothwell2997]

Thanks Ron very informative vid

[@roncalverley]

Very welcome Nick 👍

[@mattperryman1948]

Thank you, sir. Great video.

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for watching Matt 👍

[@billy19461]

I always love your videos!

[@roncalverley]

Thanks Billy :)

[@paultay23]

Great info for a total newbie (in the UK) cheers Paul

[@roncalverley]

Hi Paul, I'm pleased that you were able to get something from it. Thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@valborchardt3596]

Thank you Ron, very good information

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@blackemmons]

You surprised me with that one Ron. Did you forget the "big" scraper and etc to turn the blanks?? :-) Perhaps face shield. Sorry but second guessing is always easier. :-) See ya tomorrow. JimE

[@StevieJack]

Didn’t take me long after getting a lathe to see glasses were not going to be enough, your right, safety equipment is important, hopefully anyone with a lathe reads safety precautions, like keeping fingers out from between tool rest and work piece.

[@busterwest1644]

Now you tell me!!! Thank you Ron.... Retireing and getting set up to turn wood, starting with pens, so have taken a few months to get all the kit together whilst I am still employed. No room for a pillar drill so just waiting for a Jacobs chuck to arrive for the lathe to begin my first pen. One question if I may, the litttle tool you knocked up to " flair" the brass tube after the mill.. appreciate you may have turned the handle yourself but what is the bit.... countersink ? Thank you for the video

[@roncalverley]

Hi Buster, kzbin.info/www/bejne/baKud3-AbbVrlbc Enjoy your pen turning 🙂

[@mikel4510]

Nail polish remover to unstick fingers.

[@roncalverley]

👍

[@DeeegerD]

You don't need a lathe - you can carve the body. Just wanted to see how the kit assembles.

[@roncalverley]

Yes, that would sure be interesting. 👍

[@johnmarshall8171]

Great video Ron. Do you consider a mandrel saver for the tailstock an essential?

[@roncalverley]

Short answer is "no". Just be careful to not over tighten things up. 🙂

[@billk.5891]

Nice video. Subbed after watching.

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for the sub! 👍

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Great video can't wait to make one

[@roncalverley]

.... just one warning, turning pens is like turning bowls. It becomes an addiction, lol 😁

[@mountainviewturning5319]

I'm good at turning bowl's check out my KZbin channel

[@roncalverley]

Yes I have already my woodturning friend. That's why I mentioned "bowls", lol.

[@bradgiez6192]

where did you get the deburring tool? looks like you made the handle for it.

[@roncalverley]

Hi Brad, Thanks for watching. See www.amazon.com/Countersink-Baban-Degree-6mm-19mm-Moworve/dp/B01LX87BDA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536667243&sr=8-3&keywords=countersink+drill+bit

[@luisfigueroa5072]

Great, thanks!

[@roncalverley]

Thank you for watching and commenting Luis. 👍

[@paintilludrop]

Clear video, info

[@roncalverley]

👍

[@josesa34]

Can u post links to things that are needed to make pens?

[@roncalverley]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I don't know where you live, but most of the things you need may be purchased here. www.pennstateind.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=BEST&Store_Code=&Category_Code=pen-turning-supplies

[@aliabazaid4293]

Helpful 👍

[@roncalverley]

👍

[@luamayav]

Great video. Where do you get you own kits?

[@luamayav]

Pen kits.

[@roncalverley]

Here in Canada I get them from --- William Woodwrite www.penblanks.ca/ Lee Valley www.leevalley.com/en/Garden/page.aspx?p=53758

[@dwightl5863]

Penn State Industries: pennstateind.com Woodturningz: woodturningz.com Berea Hardwoods: woodturningz.com Rockler: www.rockler.com/ Woodcraft: www.woodcraft.com/

Hi Mr. Ron I am from Vietnam I want to buy woodworking pen tool kit? Can you help me? Please

[@roncalverley]

I do not know where in Vietnam pen turning supplies are sold.

Thank you for answering my question, so let me ask you where you bought the toolkit ?

[@zero00939]

hello Mr Ron i am from Malaysia currently i want to buy pen kits for wood turning? Can you help me?please

[@roncalverley]

I do not know of any places in Malaysia where you can purchase pen turning supplies.

How much you can buy a kit to make a pen? please

[@roncalverley]

www.pennstateind.com/store/pen-kits.html

Thank you very much

[@tylercarlson1634]

Hi Ron I am a big fan

[@tylercarlson1634]

I love pen turning so much

[@tylercarlson1634]

I recently got a lathe mine was the central machinery mini lathe the bigger brother of the one in the video

[@tylercarlson1634]

It's the 5 speed 10×18 Central Machinery lathe

[@roncalverley]

Just Googled it. That looks like a great inexpensive "getting-started" lathe. Will even turn bowls up to 10 inches in diameter. Sweet :)

[@noed.martinez9358]

Thanks 4 the info

[@roncalverley]

Thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@YasarDemirkaya-g3v]

Merhabalar dolma kalem yapimi için metal bölüm olanlar nasıl temin edebilirim.

[@roncalverley]

www.pennstateind.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SEARCH&q=fountain+pen+kits

[@노을-n8q]

want to buy an extension

[@espjason]

2 dollars for coffee in the uk its £4 a cup $6 wow

[@vladnickul]

Whats dripping there? :)

[@roncalverley]

Dripping ??? Perhaps it's ticking, lol :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGjIhH6tobZ6rc0

[@vladnickul]

I think I'm becoming deaf ...I was convinced there was water dripping there :)) thanks for sharing :)

[@mrg2688]

My first pen was $1800.00

[@roncalverley]

I know the feeling, lol. Thanks for commenting :)

[@thefriendlygrizzley6728]

First pen wil be tremendously expensive, better buay one that you have made.

[@roncalverley]

Good idea! Forget the first one and start with the second one I like that! lol :)

[@thefriendlygrizzley6728]

Ron Calverley super ide, thanks, and have a tremendously good day!

[@sryth1]

Can you use the tailstock of the lathe as a press?

[@roncalverley]

That might work, but I'd use my drill press before the tailstock method :)

[@silentghost82]

Ey ron i wish you were my grampa so you could teach me all you know about working with wood and using the equipment

[@roncalverley]

Thank you for that complement 😊

[@jpjp9111]

What the heck is ca glue? Is that like Elmers glue?

[@roncalverley]

Some folks call it "Super Glue" or "Krazy Glue" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate

[@jpjp9111]

Ron Calverley Ah ha! Super glue. I use that stuff allot. Thank you.