Pen Turners

[Roy Sanders]

I wish to meet some pen turners. If you use a laser engraver on your pens, I wish to know that too. Turning pens started out as a hobby, then turned into physical therapy. Now a very small business. I recently imported a 40W CO2 laser. Now i am learning how to put it all together. If any of you are willing to mentor or provide suggestion and conversation, will you respond to this post?

Thank you, I wish to offer something too; don't know what that is yet.

Roy:cool:

[James Combs]

Hi Roy, do a little pen turning myself, I may be at around 200 by now. Not a major number but OK as hobby. Would love to be able to have my own laser engraver but not in the cards at the moment so I can't help you much there. However, I am a member of "The International Association of Pen-turners"(penturners dot org) and I know that there are many members over there that have laser engravers, you might get a little more input/response from them. BTW many of the folks here on the creek are also members over on the IAP so don't be surprised if others here on SMC make the same or similar suggestion.

[Keith Outten]

Roy,

I turn pens and own a Trotec Laser Engraver that I use to engrave some of the pens I make. You will find a group of pen turners/laser engravers here in the Laser Engraving Forum (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/forumdisplay.php?8-Engravers-Forum) and some of the most beautiful work anywhere.

[Bob Dupras]

I'm also an IAP member (BSea over there). I probably have close to 400 pens made. Most have been given away. I don't have a laser though. I have gotten into doing kitless pens though.

[Dan Hintz]

IAP member here, too, Roy... it would help if you put your location so some of the more local folks could meet up with you.

[Brad Barnhart]

Howdy Mr. Bob! I'm new to the forum. My name is Brad. I'm a Scroll Sawyer & turner myself. I'm considering turning some pens as gifts. I read in your post you use "kitless pens". I don't suppose I could ask where ya get them, could I?

[Dan Hintz]

Howdy Mr. Bob! I'm new to the forum. My name is Brad. I'm a Scroll Sawyer & turner myself. I'm considering turning some pens as gifts. I read in your post you use "kitless pens". I don't suppose I could ask where ya get them, could I?

Kitless... no kit. You make the (major) components, such as the finials, tips, clips, etc.

[Bob Dupras]

As Dan said, "kitless" uses no kit. You make your own components, or maybe use a piece or two from a kit. But generally speaking, you do't use brass tubes. And you design your pen with the dimensions you decide. Then you use taps & dies to cut threads to assemble your pieces. Here are some of mine. The 1st one I used a nib & clip from a long clicker kit. The 2nd was a swap pen. The theme was "transformation swap". Your partner sends you materials to make a pen. He sent me some colored maple veneer along with some blue PVC. That's why the multi-colored accents.

These take a lot more time than a kit pen, but I like the challenge. Plus, to me, making a pen in an hour is boring after you've done a couple hundred or so.

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