The turners workshop

[Lancelot]

Hi All,

Id like to recommend Vince at the turners workshop.
I have bought literally loads of erinoid blanks conway stewart and Omas blanks all beautiful but not cheap lol. Vince also sells genuine pen kits from the original manufacturers and are not Chinese copy's.

I'm waiting quite impatiently for the post man to bring me a conway stewart matiese Casein blank I bought from Vince at the weekend.
I also have some of his vintage cellulose acetate blanks that are close to 100 years old.

If you need BOCK or JOWO magna carta nibs and feeds he has them all.

Pens below are all erinoid feathered eider feathered coot, and Aspen

All the best

Lance

 

[alpha1]

I buy a lot of stuff from the Turners Warehouse.

 

[Lancelot]

Hi,

I have quite a collection of Vince's blanks and I can't wait to get the casein blank I bought this weekend.
The erinoid feathered coot and eider are a stunning material as is the Aspen. Bought some of his pen kits too, and no doubt I will buy more ;-)

Lance

 

[geordie0928]

I do a lot of pen blanks Vinny, I also had vist to his stockroom I was in heaven there. Great bloke.

 

[Caoimhoo]

I buy a lot of stuff from them on the Bay. The vintage cellulose acetate is real quality material and polishes up like a dream. Heat is a serious enemy with that material and I’ve ruined a couple of full blanks when the top end just turned to jelly haha. However l used the bottom half to make smaller pieces like key rings and Christmas baubles etc. .No piece is ever a dead loss. I use small offcuts to make pulls for the blinds all around the house. All different and quite funky looking with the different styles,materials and colours.

 

[Lancelot]

I've just bought some more of my favourite erinoid coot, eider and conway blanks I got on Ebay auction. Love erinoid materials it's so good to turn, I'm waiting for some Diego blanks from Vince the green and blue swirl.
I do need to ring Vince actually about fountain pens and nibs. I want to make custom pens as I saw Ash's Rockster pens when I googled erinoid periander and Aspen and I thought I want to do that. Ash, I thank you for your inspirational pens.

All the best

Lance

 

[alpha1]

The Turners Workshop had an open day to day unfortunatelly I was unable to get there. Bummer. Hmm.
Probably just as well I would probably of emptied my Bank account if I had got there.

 

[alpha1]

I recieved a package to day from the Turners work shop it contained four free blanks.
I ordered two blanks from him and paid for them. He text me to say he had run out of the blanks I ordered and offered me two alternative blanks of a similar quality I accepted his offer. The two blanks turned up with four extra blanks for free. That is excellent customer service in my book.

 

[Lancelot]

I buy All, my blanks from Vince, truly are the best in the UK and probably the world. In my opinion but I am rather biased ;-)
My Erinoid Diego blanks arrived yesterday and I wasn't expecting the shear awesomeness of them. I can't really express how amazing this material is. But I have amassed quite a collection lol.
I do need to ring Vince and thank him, and to talk about his fountain pen nibs.
I will take photos though

Lance

 

[Adal6]

Very nice set of pens lance

 

[Lancelot]

Thanks,
They do finish to a glass like surface on all the Erinoid blanks I've made, stunning material.
;-) Lance

 

[ValleyBoy]

I agree that Vince is a great chap and, as well as running the Turners Workshop, he is also responsible for organising the UK Pen shows which happen around the country. Worth looking out for. You will see him at every show selling blanks, nibs, pens and all sorts of other stuff. Vince is the official supplier of Jowo nibs for the UK.
(Beaufort Ink are the official suppliers of Bock nibs).
Vince does also supply the Magna Carta nibs that are, essentially, copies of each (use same feeds and housings).

As for blanks, yes Vince does have an excellent supply of a variety of vintage and modern blanks.
Word to the wise - if you’re using casein then take care as it does absorb moisture very easily. You can ruin a pen easily when wet sanding if you’re too keen with the water. Also not suitable for vegans as it’s a by-product of the dairy milk industry. Important to know if you’re thinking of selling to the public.

It is worth saying that there are other excellent blank suppliers int he uk, none more so than the aforementioned Beaufort Ink run by Phil Dart who also provides and administers this forum for us all. They are an excellent company for all things pen-making related and are widely appreciated by many on here who are regular customers. (Whilst I don’t use pen kits myself they are generally regarded as amongst the best available anywhere). Definitely worth a look.

Cheers
Ash

 

[alpha1]

Yes I am also a fan of Beufort ink. If I am making kit pens I prefer there products they are a cut above a lot of other kit suppliers in my opinion.
If you are into kitless pens there supplies of Blanks, taps and dies, mandrels, pen clips and bock nibs and sections are a must.

 

[Lancelot]

Morning all,
Thanks for your reply's yes I have figured that Phil Dart is the Beufort ink chap as I have read his articles on custom pen making and the one on melamine lathering. I do have him in My favourites Ash, I didn't know he did blanks but I do regularly go on Beaufort inks site.
At some stage I want to go down the kitless/custom stage but I'm not there yet I have seen Phils triple start die and taps and also there nibs ect. But I haven't seen the blanks yet.
It was one of your pens Ash that I had seen and thought id like to make one like that (a blue periander and Diego and aspen) that was inspired by and stunning.

 

[Lancelot]

I will definitely drop Phil a line,
As I do want to progress in making my pens, i dont really sell them as I ask them to donate to a charity of there choice for me but I do love making pens. Have only made two pens in the last three months and both wood :-)
Not acrylic.

I do like Beaufort inks pen kits as they are on another level and I will look for blanks ;-)

All the best

Lance