I've been married to my lovely wife, Maggie, since January, 1968. We have two sons and three beautiful granddaughters, ages 8, 6 & 3. My oldest son lives right across the street from me and my youngest is about 80 miles West. I've been interested in woodworkng since I was about 10 years old and made my first "skate scooter".
I started turning pens in 1998, as a hobby. I quickly ran out of people to give pens to - and it was getting expensive. If I wanted to keep making them, I had to figure out a way to sell some. Thus, Cajun Pen Shop was born. Internet Sales was a fairly new concept, so I dove in and sold a bunch of my hand turned pens. One thing led to another and next thing I know, I'm an authorized distributor for some of the largest pen manufacturers. The rest is history, my hobby grew into a full time business and I found that I no longer had time to turn my pens.
In addition to the Pen Business, I've been a Police Officer since 1968. I'm working on my second pension, have 2 more years to go before I officially retire and hopefully spend the rest of my days in my shop making sawdust.
The Pen Shop has allowed me to put together quite a collection of woodworking tools, I actually have pretty much everything I think I will need - now I am starting on tools that I want :-)). I'll post some shop pictures soon.
My main interests are box making, clock making and lathe work - pretty much any small projects.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
32 comments so far
WayneC
home | projects | blog
5264 posts in 433 days
posted 402 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks. I’m looking forward to reading your posts. This is a great crew of folks with extensive knowledge. Enjoy.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Mark
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306 posts in 470 days
posted 401 days ago
Welcome to the group. Couldn’t be a Saints fan could you?
Mark
-- Mark
Karson
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11100 posts in 737 days
posted 401 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Bill
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2505 posts in 497 days
posted 401 days ago
Welcome Aboard CP. Are you going to be showing us pens?
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
cajunpen
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5127 posts in 402 days
posted 401 days ago
Thanks guys, wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome. Very happy to have found your forum and look forward to being active. I am more of a tool collector, than actual woodworker, I’ve been at it for 30+ years, adding equipment to my shop hoping to have enough to do some serious wood work when I retire in 2 years. I think I have everything I need – guess it’s time to start some serious projects – which brings me to your forum for some sound advice.
Mark – Yes, I am a die-hard Saints fan. Until last year, I was embarrased to tell anyone that :-))
Bill – No pens, but I do have plenty of them. Don’t like to push them on friends.
Thanks again guys for making me feel welcome.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Mark
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306 posts in 470 days
posted 401 days ago
I’ve liked the Saints for several years because of the sacks the fans use to wear on their heads. Almost had to feel sorry players. But what a comeback.
-- Mark
Max
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4443 posts in 609 days
posted 400 days ago
Glad to see that you have made Lumberjocks a part of your Woodworking experience… Welcome…
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
lclashley
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221 posts in 450 days
posted 396 days ago
Another Louisiana Woodworker! Welcome.
cajunpen
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5127 posts in 402 days
posted 396 days ago
Thanks ldashley – are you near Metairie? This seems to be a great forum – learning more each time I visit.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
PanamaJack
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4454 posts in 414 days
posted 396 days ago
Welcome to L.J.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
lclashley
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221 posts in 450 days
posted 395 days ago
I’m up in Monore. My dad grew up in Metairie though. I used to visit quite often.
cajunpen
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5127 posts in 402 days
posted 395 days ago
Well if you are ever in the area give me a shout and we can talk “sawdust making”. I’m really enjoying this forum. I belong to and visit a few others, but I think this one is the best of all of them.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
lclashley
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221 posts in 450 days
posted 395 days ago
cool. I agree this is an awesome site.
CharlieM1958
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3048 posts in 554 days
posted 392 days ago
Bill, we are neighbors for sure! I live off Transcontinental, but out by the lake. Also a 20+ year Saints season ticket holder!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
oscorner
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4576 posts in 647 days
posted 375 days ago
Nice to see another Cajun on board. Welcome from Baton Rouge!*
-- Jesus is Lord!
David
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1798 posts in 475 days
posted 375 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks!
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Eric Diehl
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4 posts in 249 days
posted 246 days ago
Thanks for the welcome! I am a beginning woodworker and looking foreword to all the help.
-- www.westerntool.com
sandhill
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220 posts in 260 days
posted 226 days ago
I am new here as well and your right this place is Awesome. Welcome
-- Just another day in paradise.
Dollarbill
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91 posts in 474 days
posted 221 days ago
Welcome to LJ from Baton Rouge.
Bill
-- Make Dust
Harold
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221 posts in 184 days
posted 181 days ago
Thanks for the kind words on the signs, but to be perfectly honest the biggest change in my carving and lettering came after I got a felt honing wheel and arbor for my drill, I just clamp it to the side of my table.
harold
-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.
woodgrain411
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119 posts in 189 days
posted 175 days ago
I’m going to be doing the holiday shop (santa’s work shop) for a few of the local schools in my area ! I’m looking for ideas for fast , easy projects with little cost to make , so I can donate them for the under privileged childeren to give to their parents for the holidays (x-mas & such) . Childern of all walks of life also find joy in giving to their parents and other family members on the holidays , It gives them a sense of pride,and happyness! The school asks that I make sure that it would be something of a non-religious background to all cultures !If anyone has any plans or ideas please send them to me soon december 17th is my deadline. Thank you everyone that took the time to read this !Happy thanks giving!!!!!
woodgrain411
(note: I have access to lots of scrap 2×4 2×6 2×8 2×10 2×12 all less than 24” long free , also kids have be able to carry it ,Thanks again! )
-- I love this site !
nakamaruchi
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38 posts in 151 days
posted 149 days ago
Thanks for the welcome. I am from Japan, and I need a lot of help.
-- Satoru Nakamaru, Japan ---It takes twenty years to make an overnight success. -- And if my English is strange or incorrect, please tell me.
suliman
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16 posts in 140 days
posted 136 days ago
Thanks for the welcome!
-- Suliman , Syria, jablah ,
Tomcat1066
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556 posts in 132 days
posted 132 days ago
Thanks for the Welcome :)
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
John
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10 posts in 120 days
posted 118 days ago
thanks for the ‘welcome aboard’ . been lurking fo a while finally decided to actually be a part of the group.
Eric
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414 posts in 120 days
posted 117 days ago
Hey, thanks for stopping by my site as well. What a great place this is! Enjoy the turning – I’ll get to that one day, but am putting it off. It seems like turning is about the slipperiest slope there is! :)
-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com
Dick Cain
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4161 posts in 636 days
posted 114 days ago
Hi Bill,
I was just looking at a carving by Jiri.
Yes I’m still carving, but I jump from one thing to another, I’ve got to many things going on.
And by the way, WELCOME to L J’s. LOL
I thought I’d greeted you, but I guess I missed you.
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Festool4
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19 posts in 114 days
posted 112 days ago
That is good to hear… Thanks for the warm welcome…
Frank
-- Festool4
Yettiman
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66 posts in 74 days
posted 71 days ago
Thank you for the warm welcome, much appreciated you taking the time. Sad really, starting to feel almost as home here as in my workshop
-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot
jeanmarc
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209 posts in 52 days
posted 52 days ago
thanks for your comments c pour moi un plaisirs de faire parti de cette communautés du bois
-- jeanmarc manosque france
eViolinist
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18 posts in 47 days
posted 46 days ago
Thanks for the welcome. : )
IowaPat
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11 posts in 45 days
posted 42 days ago
Thanks for the welcome. I’m a member of many online communities and this is the first time I’ve had so many different people actually welcome a new member. I’ve only recently discovered the site and I’ve already found it very useful for a novice woodworker. This site seems like a fantastic community and I can’t wait to join in with questions, projects and someday insight.
Thanks,
Pat
-- I play with wood to relieve stress from the day. Sometimes I have to retreat to the day to relieve stress from the wood.