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   Like most woodworking projects, before you can get to the final result, prep work and jigs play an important role, before the actual turning process begins. The biggest attribute to lathe turning is that finished results can typically be attained faster with almost instant gratification. This WoodRiver Pen Drilling Vise with 7mm Drill Guide & Stop Collar combo aids in that process for the prep work, especially for the novice turner, or those who may not have a drill press to begin the wood turning creative adventure. 

This chart outlines the proper blanks, drills and accessories to make various pens and small turning kits.

May is a month of celebrations that honor the people who protect us in a variety of circumstances: Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, Police Officers and Military Personnel. To say “thank you” to these men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us, why not make a memorable gift in the form of a special handmade writing instrument? 

A stack-laminated blank looks great and solves wiring problems.

We use pens every day and generally take them for granted.  After all, pens have been around for centuries.  Early pens were feathers dipped into bottles of ink.  (Pen comes from the Latin ‘penna’ for feather.) Quills were elegant when used at a desk, but pretty messy to carry around in your pocket.

Woodcraft Product Development Mgr. Ben Bice demonstrates the A-Z knowledge on how to turn an acrylic pen.

Woodcraft’s Inferno acrylic and Tru-Stone turned pens are hot off the lathe and are shown below with the Wall Street II Pen Kits. Pen kits and pen blanks are offered in hundreds of choices and styles. In addition to the acrylic pen blanks, we also offer pen blanks in domestic wood, exotic wood, metal, poly resin, inlay, coffee bean, circuit board, deer antler, and many other unique blank choices.

Woodcraft Magazine reviews the Laminated Pen Blanks

In these times of instant gratification, nothing satisfies a woodturner more than finishing a project in a few hours.

Because this is a simple bowl, do yourself a favor and use a simple, gradual shape for your bowl as indicated. When you gain more experience, you can be as creative as you want to be. But for your first bowl, keep it simple! This article shows you how.