Where to find pen materials....

[sachbvn]

Hey - I was just wondering where you guys buy your kits from.

I've bought a few from Woodcraft and will check 'em out shortly - I've looked a little bit at Pen State Ind - those seem to be a little cheaper in cost....

What do you guys do for kits?

Also - any idea where to find (if they make such a thing) kits related to professional sports teams - like the Chicago Bears/Cubs or something like that?

FYI - the lathe is a mile from my house!!!!

Thanks!
Zac

[maxwellsmart007]

For all things penturning, try penturners.org

THere's a wealth of information there that covers every minute detail that you might want to know about penturning...

For kits, try
beartoothwoods.com - Berea kits
woodnwhimsies.com - PSI kits, cheaper
woodturningz.com - PSI kits, cheaper
woodturnerscatalog.com - top o' the line kits

[TDHofstetter]

There's also Packard, at www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=packard&Category_Code=pm

...and WoodCraft, at www.woodcraft.com/Category/1002283/Pen-Kits.aspx

I bought up several hundred kits a long time ago (lots of clearance-but-premium Jet ones, cheap as dirt, among 'em), so it's been a long time now since I've bought.

[Doug B]

PSI (Penn State Industries) has a lot of inexpensive kits that are good to get started with. www.pennstateind.com/

Anything you can get from PSI you can get at a discounted price from www.woodturningz.com/Pen_Kits.aspx
(even if it is not on their website)

Berea kits are better quality but their website is just awful. A better place to look at the Berea pen kits is www.arizonasilhouette.com/

Another good place, but a little more expensive is www.woodturnerscatalog.com/

You already know about Woodcraft.

I have made hundreds of PSI slimlines purchased from Woodturningz.

One word of caution - take a close look at the different pen finishes. Some of the platings are not as durable as others. Of the less expensive kits ($2.00 per kit or less) my absolute favorite is Gunmetal. Chrome is also a good plating that can be found in the inexpensive kits.

For more durable (and more costly) finishes I like Black Titanium. Rhodium or Platinum are also good platings. There is a Gold Titanium plating that is supposed to be very durable, but I have never tried it because it looks like you would not be able to tell the difference easily between that and a cheaper gold plating.

It sounds irrational, but a 10k gold plating is more durable than a 24k plating.

A couple of the suppliers' magazines have a place where all their different platings are explained and I would recommend taking a good look at that when you are deciding what to order.

And, of course you will want to get your CA glue from Monty at woodenwonderstx.com/WWBlue/index.html
;D

[Joe Lyddon]

Looks like Zac is going to get the Pen Making virus! ;D ;D

Just remember to wash your hands often... ;D

[sachbvn]

lol - I just ordered the glue from Monty - Thin, Medium, accelerator, (and debonder hehe), and some Epoxy. $20 and free shipping? That's a good deal!

Now to check out some more kits - I did order some satin nickel from Woodcraft today - I found banked enamel from Penn State - those are about.... 4 bucks each I think - they looked pretty durable.

Now - I'm having a hard time picturing what difference kit colors go with what woods.... I ordered an assortment (assortment A to be exact) from Woodcraft, figured at a buck and some change per blank - I could get a good idea for the difference kinds. I won't keep ordering that - just once to see what each are like.


I am heading out to get the lathe if I can get it into the truck in pieces by myself!


Zac

[dburkhart]

cool zac have fun be safe