Great value parts for pen making.

[WoodPecker]

Pens of color specialise in pen turning supplies and is highly recommended on another fourm, I've ordered a mandrel and some pen kits, the mandrel was $17.50 which is a bit of a bargain and again was recommended, you would be lucky to get one as cheap on ebay. Pen kits are also good value starting at $1.70 (thats only £1), what looks like the same pen kit is £2.75 on axminsters site.

Shipping cost me $11 flat rate for a large envelope via Global priority mail.
You can pay with CC or Paypal.

Pens of color:
http://www.pocwoodworking.com

 

[Oldflyer2]

Hi Adrian,

I can add my 2p worth here. I have now had three oders from Sheila and all have been as ordered and correct.

Sheila almost always throws in a "gift" with each order.

The parts are all top quality (PSI kits).

I have the mandrel you speak of and it works a treat.

Tom

 

[La Truciolara]

Oldflyer2
Tom
would you be so kind as to give us the URL of Sheila?
Thanks in advance

 

[Oldflyer2]

I'd be happy to. I just put together another order myself.

http://www.pocwoodworking.com/

Very nice people to deal with.

Tom

Oops ... just noticed it was in the original message ... oh well

 

[WoodPecker]

would you be so kind as to give us the URL of Sheila?

OK I've edited the original post to make the link to pens of color a bit more obvious. Sorry about that, I suppose at a glance it looked like a ling to my own site or something.

La Truciolara,

If you are ordering and you have a problem with selecting shipping to your destination email Sheila and she will sort it out, I had a problem as she hadn't set up shipping rates for Ireland so I couldn't process the order.
I did tell Sheila that I would give her a plug on this UK site so she said she would make sure that shipping rates were setup for the UK.

 

[WoodPecker]

The order arrived yesterday, sent on Thursday. As Tom mentioned Sheila through in some free bits with the order

 

[Noel]

Think I'll have a go at pen turning. So, what exactly do I need to get started? Suitable mandrel, what else? A pen kit? Is that it?

Noel

 

[como]

I just couldn't help myself with those prices :wink: , my order has just been sent

 

[cd]

Think I'll have a go at pen turning. So, what exactly do I need to get started? Suitable mandrel, what else? A pen kit? Is that it?

Noel

Noel,
I asked the same question a while back and got a lot of great help here
Its a great way to use up scraps and make quick gifts at the same time. I wish I'd tried it earlier.

cd

 

[Noel]

Thanks CD, think everything I need to know is in that thread.

Rgds

Noel, who should really search a bit more.

 

[WoodPecker]

Noel,

With regard to getting the bits an pieces here's the best value sources which I've come across:

Pen kits and Mandrel from Pens of color, excellent value see link above. The mandrel from Pens of color comes with a 7mm drill bit, don't know what the drill bit quality is like as I haven't tried it yet. Barrell trimmer, bit expensive with POC, cheaper with Axminster (Maybe there's a quality difference). The only other things you really need are some gap filling glue and finishing material.

Gill sent me a useful film clip which will show you the basics, I'll forward it to you if to you send me your email address.

 

[Oldflyer2]

I can give some help here. The drill bits from P.O.C. work well. They will still wander a bit if you hit some very hard grain, but I have tried other brad point type bits from other places and they do the same. The secret seems to be light pressure and frequent cleaning of the bit.

All in all, decent quality for the money.

Tom