Community Forums

okcnewbie · 10-28-2014, 09:20 AM

Here are a couple of the pens I've made in the past. They are Bethlehem olive tree, deer antler with .308.

**JohnRR** · 10-28-2014, 06:14 PM

Great looking pens, gives a new meaning to the word pen and was not what I expected to see.

charliej · 10-28-2014, 06:18 PM

Very nice looking. Do you use a small lathe or all by hand?

okcnewbie · 10-28-2014, 08:00 PM

I actually use my old shopsmith mark V lathe. It's a little big but it works. The shine is from super glue. Basically you apply it as smoothly as possible and then work your way through the various grits until it shines. I typically use a skew for the lathe work.
Thanks for the kind words. Trust me anyone can do it with just a little training. I told my wife I'd love to set up the RV to be able to do this when we retire and hit the road. The deer pen has antler and the cartridge from my first (and only) deer that I got on a hunting trip with my dad. My dad passed shortly there after unexpectedly. I started making pens out of an old gym floor that was very special to a lot of people. The pens were big hits.
You wouldn't believe what you can use. Corian, pine cones, breakfast cereal, circuit boards, old blankets, antler and of course any type of wood. My mother in law loves scrabble and I was able to make a pen with a scrabble board print out in resin. The sky is the limit.
Sorry if I rambled on....

charliej · 10-28-2014, 08:04 PM

Sounds like a nice hobby.

bokobird · 10-28-2014, 08:14 PM

Someone I work with does that, makes pens out of various materials, mostly wood and corian. They're really nice pens and each is custom so when you receive one, it's quite special.

A co-worker left recently who was into guns (hunting, skeet shooting) and this guy made a pen that included a real "bolt-action" lever to take the tip of the pen out/in. Really amazing work.

gbstewart · 10-29-2014, 07:36 AM

Very nice pens
I've been pen making for the last 4 or 5 years. Love making them
I will be taking my lathe with me when we hit the road, I have a taig lathe that I built a box for it, and will make an other one for supplies , should be a good hobby for the road
gbstewart

okcnewbie · 10-29-2014, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbstewart

Very nice pens
I've been pen making for the last 4 or 5 years. Love making them
I will be taking my lathe with me when we hit the road, I have a taig lathe that I built a box for it, and will make an other one for supplies , should be a good hobby for the road
gbstewart

I was thinking that if someone found a nice burl or piece of wood at a particular location that a pen made out of that would be a pretty neat keepsake. Not that this will ever be a money making venture for me. I give most of them away and have spent way too much money on this hobby. The only pens I've made in the last year or so are the circuit board pens from Woodcraft. I'm in the electronics field and we use them for retirement gifts.

okcnewbie · 10-29-2014, 12:32 PM

Here is a pic of the Scrabble pen. Just print up the scrabble board then glue it to the tube and encase in resin. Once the resin is hardened just turn down to the correct size on the lathe and then polish.

parsoc · 10-29-2014, 07:24 PM

This is beautiful! and you make it seem so easy..like, anyone can do it??!!

okcnewbie · 10-30-2014, 06:03 AM

Anyone can do it if;

They can convince their better half that all the money spent on this (yet another) hobby will be worth it. I wonder how much money I have spent on this? On the other hand I've made pens for weddings, watched/helped my nephew make a pen, and given away too many to count. Oh yeah, and I even showed my father in law and now he makes them as well. Most Woodcraft stores will help you make your first pen if you check with them for the next class.

gbstewart · 11-01-2014, 03:43 PM

These are key chains that I made in memory of my father in law who past away, a year ago , his name and date of birth/death are laser engraved on them, and in 5 of them we placed some of his ashes in them and gave them to family so he will be always with us.

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gbstewart

okcnewbie · 11-01-2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbstewart

These are key chains that I made in memory of my father in law who past away, a year ago , his name and date of birth/death are laser engraved on them, and in 5 of them we placed some of his ashes in them and gave them to family so he will be always with us.
Attachment 78021
gbstewart

Great job! What a great idea. ... I'm sure it makes such a great loss just a little bit easier to bear.

RBeau1954 · 11-01-2014, 09:24 PM

I work at woodcraft part-time, as a woodworker it is a fun place to work. They say your first pen you make will cost you over $300.00, after that it gets cheaper and cheaper. It is amazing the material we get in to make the pens out of. Someday I may start making pens since I get great discounts on stuff but there is so much more that I want to do, pens will have to wait but you are doing a great job, they look beautiful.