Pen Designer @ Woodcraft

reible · Post by **reible** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:45 pm

After doing some reading on pen turning I happen to be checking on some items online at woodcraft.com and on the home page I noticed this Pen Designer offering they had listed at:

http://www.woodcraft.com/projectconfigu ... rator.aspx

It is a way of picking a style, options available to that style and then you can pick a wood to go with it. You see what it will look like and you can change it by picking another wood or another style or even pick another option of that style.

It would appear I have an expensive taste in pen kits, the first one I put together was a $27.98 version. Don't think I'm in the ranks of someone who would go for that just starting out. Maybe after I do 100 or so of them I might think about treating myself. I have doubts if I'm even worthy of that much of a pen.

[ATTACH]15188[/ATTACH]

Well that was fun for a while.

Ed

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:24 am

reible wrote:After doing some reading on pen turning I happen to be checking on some items online at woodcraft.com and on the home page I noticed this Pen Designer offering they had listed at:

http://www.woodcraft.com/projectconfigurator/configurator.aspx

It is a way of picking a style, options available to that style and then you can pick a wood to go with it. You see what it will look like and you can change it by picking another wood or another style or even pick another option of that style.

It would appear I have an expensive taste in pen kits, the first one I put together was a $27.98 version. Don't think I'm in the ranks of someone who would go for that just starting out. Maybe after I do 100 or so of them I might think about treating myself. I have doubts if I'm even worthy of that much of a pen.

[ATTACH]15188[/ATTACH]

Well that was fun for a while.

Ed

Stay Away from 'Wall St' and platinum!:rolleyes:

drl · Post by **drl** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:44 pm

Penn State Industries has a similiar pen designer. I have used it a number of times. I have turned perhaps 40 pens and at this point would not be too intimidated on trying the higher end pens. I made six Princess (PSI) pens for a bible camp auction this summer. They auctioned off for $60.00 apiece and looked as good as they look in the catalog.
I have seen your amazing work Ed--with a few "learning" pens in your shirt pocket you will have no problems. Make note that there are no beads or coves in the pen you described--just a simple spindle turning. Pens are way fun. Very little work for an amazing project at completion.
Regards,
Dwight

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:25 pm

Ed,

I purchase from Woodcraft often. There are two items from them I will never buy again. The first is pen kits the second was a set of turning tools that lacked quality. Fjimp

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:32 pm

I use SS turning tools, and I have purchased from Woodcraft. People love my pens, and I have given quite a few away...that is to say I have not sold any, just gifted or donated my work. I only purchase pens that show off a great deal of wood grain. My wife likes the slim line, which doesn't leave alot of room for artistic veriation other than grain. The Woodcraft pens are consistant and present well, that is to say I have no complaints. Mostly I look for 5" pieces of wood that have spectacular grain lines.
I just came from the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas where several people were selling pens. I went for Rodeo not for selling. Although I made a point of complementing their work...no big deal. When your selling it all depends on location...at the swap meet you get ten bucks, at the "craft show" in Laguna or Tuluride you get $75 for the same pen.
Anyway, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:41 pm

kalynzoo wrote:I use SS turning tools, and I have purchased from Woodcraft. People love my pens, and I have given quite a few away...that is to say I have not sold any, just gifted or donated my work. I only purchase pens that show off a great deal of wood grain. My wife likes the slim line, which doesn't leave alot of room for artistic veriation other than grain. The Woodcraft pens are consistant and present well, that is to say I have no complaints. Mostly I look for 5" pieces of wood that have spectacular grain lines.
I just came from the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas where several people were selling pens. I went for Rodeo not for selling. Although I made a point of complementing their work...no big deal. When your selling it all depends on location...at the swap meet you get ten bucks, at the "craft show" in Laguna or Tuluride you get $75 for the same pen.
Anyway, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

I certainly would not desire to frustrate you by taking issue with your comments. Still I find the Slimline pen has endless opportunity for artistic expression. Most of the pens and pencils I turn are done from the slimline design. Perhaps the pictures displayed on this discussion will offer you some new ideas.
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=9365 Jim

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:05 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Stay Away from 'Wall St' and platinum!:rolleyes:

Because of Wall Street itself

or, are there issues with that style of pen kit and the finish?

Maybe I should ask how far your tongue is pushing your cheek out

I've done a production run of the Slim Line pens for Christmas gifts .... family and co-workers. I've used kits from PSI, Rockler, and Wood Craft. Can't tell a bit of difference in any of them....all have been of good quality.

The Slim Lines were a great place to start for me. It's been 30 years since the last time I did any turning and it was a good refresher course.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:11 pm

bffulgham wrote:Because of Wall Street itself
or, are there issues with that style of pen kit and the finish?

Maybe I should ask how far your tongue is pushing your cheek out

I've done a production run of the Slim Line pens for Christmas gifts .... family and co-workers. I've used kits from PSI, Rockler, and Wood Craft. Can't tell a bit of difference in any of them....all have been of good quality.

The Slim Lines were a great place to start for me. It's been 30 years since the last time I did any turning and it was a good refresher course.

Both Wall St and platinum are too 'rich' for my blood(or pocketbook).

Ed was somewhat freaked out by the price tag(and he still would have to 'make' it).

He gots good 'taste' though!;)

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:34 pm

I have a "local" store so once in a while I like to go there (45 minutes away) and get a few things just to help them out as they have helped me out a few times past by being there. I don't normally look at anything of their store brand equipment but they do carry name brand products and can have some good sales to boot.

I was pricing a few items for my 2012 budget, (another set of jaws for my G3 chuck) when I came across the pen design thing. This maybe a common thing on some of the pen sites but was new to me.

If I do decide to purchase from them I will go to the store and if there is a problem I will return it to the store. They have always been good about customer service in the past so I would expect they will take care of issues again if need be.

Then again I might just order from some other supplier online. Have got that far yet. And with it being winter now I can't do much in my unheated garage anyway. But I will have to budget them if I want to spend $27 on them.

I still get several turning catalogs and I think most of them have pen kits now, I normal just flip past those pages but I can start checking them out.

Ed

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:30 am

I am so looking forward to trying my hand at turning some pens...one of these days real soon now.