How do I get started in pen turning?

Penn State Industries has a free dvd on beginning pen turning.They also have kits for other small projects- razors, bottle stoppers, pepper mills, etc. I would suggest joining IAP (International Association of Penturners)....their forums could answer any “new to turning” questions….Hope this helps….Wes

-- "After a year of doing general farmwork, it was quite clear to me that chickens and I were not compatible"-George Nakashima

A good video…

http://www.amazon.com/Turning-Pens-Kip-Rex-Vol/dp/0974978914/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1394478302&sr=1-1&keywords=turning+pens

There is a second part to this one as well..

Link to the Pen State DVD…

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/DVD.html?prodpage=1DV

Also, I think I have a blog post about how to do it. Will check.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Old post from my blog

http://lumberjocks.com/WayneC/blog/series/182

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Go check out Penn State Industries.
that’s where i buy all my turning supplies, and just looking around at their products
i also would recommend checking out a bunch of you tube videos. that’s how i got started. As for tools i just use a roughing gouge and a skew chisel. if your going to do pens you’ll most likely need a mandrel to mount the blanks on and you’ll need a few bushings. I got all my pen turning stuff at Penn State so if you have any other questions just ask me i can send you a bunch of links if you want.
WayneC does an excellent job explaining everything. :)

-- Anthony--http://knottywoodshop.weebly.com/

That PSI DVD is really good, since it’s free it’s also a very good deal!

-- Our village hasn't lost it's idiot, he was elected to congress.

Thanks for the pointers folks… Should get me going the right way, and soon!

-- My workshop blog can be found at http://daves-workshop.blogspot.com, YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoa-AgyeFWqnQfGIJwdzkog

Looking for a finished Pen project showing up very soon…

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

No problem, as long as you guys don’t laugh at first attempts…

-- My workshop blog can be found at http://daves-workshop.blogspot.com, YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoa-AgyeFWqnQfGIJwdzkog

Well if it’s funny i might :P I’d never make fun of someone who is being creative and trying something new don’t be afraid to try something new. I would love to see what you come up with :)

-- Anthony--http://knottywoodshop.weebly.com/

Yep, Penn St.=free dvd how to, etc.

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. Kentuk55@yahoo.com

The first mistake I made was trying to make a slimline pen…they are the cheapest and certainly the most common for sale because of that. It is not uncommon at first to catch and break the pen bodies. The Slimline is body is cut down to a extremely thin amount of wood left on the tube, unless you leave it like a “bowling pin” (fat in the middle), which in my opinion looks poor (You don’t see those in the boughten pen world). As a result, I might buy trim line or double twist kits or really any other kit, which will leave more wood on the tube.

There tons of you tube videos out there, and the afore mentioned PSI video. I joined the IAP website. (International Assoc of Penturners) While that site, IMHO is extremely clickish’, they will help you with any questions you have, and have some amazing pen makers. I might practice using your turning tools on some 2×2’s then give it a shot….
Mike