The learning curve continues.

[alpha1]

Up to now all my pen turning has been done with carbide tooling in the toolpost on my lathe. Profiling the blanks has proved troublesome as I have no idea how to use a wood gouge. All my attempts at using one has ended up in disaster. I am new to pen turning. I made a few out of interest and gave them away to family and friends I quickly realized that if I carried on doing that as demand grew I was going to be well out of pocket. So my pens have been passed around and I now find that people are actually wanting me to make pens for them. So I thought it was time to learn how to use a gouge. So today I spent a day in the shed turning wood with gouges the wood went in the bin. But I learnt a lot. Still a long way to go but what a fascinating hobby. I quite fancy having a go at a bowl. But I would need a new lathe for that mine is a metal lathe. Can't really justify the outlay.But we will see.

 

[Penpal]

For many years at my Wood Guild a leading turner produced outstanding work on his metal lathe,bowls included. Just another set of skills. I enjoy both and prefer to use a wood lathe for my purposes. The shaping of tools on the metal lathe tool post is different for wood. Where the tool holder is on your metal lathe you can simply make a tool rest to use wood chisels. To give you encouragement on the IAP Forum front page now a pen made by a newcomer called Dutchplatypus shows his first pen using a metal lathe and a home made pen rest anyone would be proud as.

Have fun .

Peter.

 

[Morse]

Hi Dave.
A visit to a local wood turning club would be a good start.
I know my local club assists “ new to turning” members.
They will have the tools and lots of experience to help.
Good luck with your endeavour’s.
Dave

 

[Cumbrian Craig]

I second the previous advice given. I had been turning nearly a year and managed to produce some ......Not too bad pens I knew that I wasn't doing something quite right!! I spent a few hours with an experienced turner and it has transformed my hobby. Going through the whole process from design to finish. If you have a club or even just an individual turner that can give you some pointers, then I would highly recommend you take the opportunity. Of course this forum is also a brilliant source of advise, but, I found a physical lesson more than helpful. All the best moving forward

Regards

Craig

 

[Bill Mooney]

Hi Dave. I live in NW Durham & it’s a but of a hike for you but you’re welcome to spend a few hours in my cave & hopefully I’ll help you along that learning curve. Pm me if interested.

 

[alpha1]

The wood is still going in the bin. I turned two wooden blanks I would not give them away never mind charging people for them. One split at the neck while sanding the other one developed holes in the centre of the blank whilst sanding. I'm done with wood.

 

[wm460]

Dave lathes are like rabbits, they seem to breed.

 

[Penpal]

I noted there was a request re the post on the IAP for a pic of the rest made for hand turning on his Metal Lathe by Dutch Platypus,worth noting and following.

Peter.

 

[21William]

Dave, have you tried a profiling tool with a round 6mm carbide insert? The silver polished inserts work very well on woods and plastics. Making slimlines (and other pens) is so much easier on a metal lathe as it’s simple to produce parallel pen bodies. Doing this is very much more difficult on a wood lathe, this I think is why you see so many curvy “bow tie” pens. Joining your local wood turning club is the best advice. My local club only charges £25 a year membership and I’ve learned a lot.

 

[Dibbs]

The wood is still going in the bin. I turned two wooden blanks I would not give them away never mind charging people for them. One split at the neck while sanding the other one developed holes in the centre of the blank whilst sanding. I'm done with wood.

What sort of wood are you using? Is it properly dried?