My first pen....

[NikNak]

Went out to the shed yesterday and had a play with my new toy.....

a pen mandrel and associated bits and bobs.... a self bought late Xmas pressie.

and here is the result...... my very first pen..!!

mandrel & pen kit from Axminster.


as a 'first off' i'm fairly happy with it considering the only finish it's got is Friction Polish (i was eager to get it assembled) and it's only the cheap Artisan(?) kit and a bit of wood that's been sitting in the shed since i very first started out 18 months ago, plus i'm still only using the Sorby 67H starter set of chisels i bought with the lathe. Next purchase is a set of pen chisels, or the Sorby 'micro' set.


as always comments welcomed.......



Nick

 

[jpt]

For your first pen that is excellent.

I like the shape and looking at the picture the join between the wood and the fittings seems to be perfect, very well done.

With regards to buying a set of chisels to turn pens I found this to be a waste of money. I used them for a while then went back to using my ordinary tools as I found them easier.

john

 

[greggy]

nick, as john says the pen looks great for your first one. well done. but you are better of with your normal sized tools for pens. because later you will be doing other projects too.

 

[Dalboy]

A good first attempt, the finish will improve as you go along. At least you got the wood nicely lined up. =D>

As for the chisels like the others said stick with the tools you have got, all I use is a 3/4 skew chisel and a 1/2 roughing gouge :roll:

 

[CHJ]

Good first dip into the world of pens 'spinney stile' NikNak, as others have advised I would forget the smaller tools, put the money towards a full sized tool to expand your existing range. A sharp roughing gouge followed by a spindle gouge and/or skew should be all that's needed.

The weight of standard tools can be an advantage in getting a smooth cut flow.

 

[Oakbear]

Very nice!

 

[gasmansteve]

Nice one Nick!.
Never made a pen yet but waiting for my pen kit to arrive see what happens then . I did wonder if I might need a new set of smaller chisels but reading the replies to your post maybe not :wink:
Regards
Steve

 

[Bodrighy]

Do you relly need small tools to make pens? I ask because I make bobbins and crochet hooks which are no bigger using ordinary tools.

Pete

 

[The Shark]

Nice job, Nick.
I just use normal tools to make pens, seem to work well enough for me.

Malc

 

[Paul.J]

Nice looking first pen Niknak

 

[NikNak]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

So it looks like the consensus is to save my money on pen chisels and just 'top-up' what i've already got.... i've only got 6 chisels, so even another 2 would increase my armoury by 1/3rd..!!!


Thanks also to Dalboy for the link to the Pen Forum... already spent ages looking on there. Don't s'pose there's a similar thing for box's..?



Nick

 

[johnny.t.]

Thats a very nice first pen Nick Well done.

JT

 

[dannykaye]

I use ordinary tools for pens, the small Sorby Spindle Master for most of the work

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Robert-Sorby-...ies_Carpentry_Woodwork_ET?hash=item439ca327fb

 

[NikNak]

well.... you've seen my first pen....


i managed to get out to the shed at the weekend and make nos. 2, 3 and 4, and here's the pics....


this was no. 2 off..... made from another scrap of Spalted Beech

the third one off was from a piece of Beech i bought from Bampton's for £1 (enough to make approx 20 pens or 4 nice boxes)

and finally the 4th was made using a piece of Sapele, again from Bampton's

again as usual...... comments welcomed.




Nick

 

[Dalboy]

Nick

some nice pens you have there. The slimline is a good pen to start with as you get to feel a little more confident the dearer pens will be turned.

Just out of interest what finish did you use on these

 

[NikNak]

Dalboy.....


Like you say, at the moment i'm just 'experimenting' with pens (didn't want to buy expensive kits from the word go...), and the slimline seemed like an obvious choice.

Next will be similar i.e. slimline or the like.... but with different coloured metal fittings..... as i'm sure some woods would/will suit a silver/chrome colour better than the gold.

As for fininsh, at the moment it's still only sealer & friction polish.... not got anything 'better' than that at the mo..... but am considering maybe a quick squirt of varnish on one to see what that looks like.... maybe??

Any hints and tips are more than welcomed as i know (from your pics) that you're a bit of a pen buff....

Plus..... i'm a bit curious.... what do the 'pen-makers' do with all the pens they make..? sell them, give them away, use them like cash and buy other goods with them..? is there a large marker for hand made pens at all...??


Many thanks once again....



Nick

 

[Paul.J]

Looks like you've got the pen bug Nick
Some more nice pens their.

 

[Dalboy]

When I started (not to long ago I'm also a novice compared to some) I gave mine away to family and friends or if someone done a small favour for me. Also handy for that odd present
I am now making some to sell

The finish I am using at the moment (On wood) is the CA/BLO method there is a video on u tube somewhere if I can find it will post on here


I've just PM you