Customer Reviews

Pens from the Wood Lathe: Step-By-Step Instructions for the Wood Turner

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very clear and concise presentation of what is required for making excellent writing instuments. Great color photos of all materials and instructions of each step in the selection of woods, and hardware, how to drill, match and assemble the components. The number of ways to varie the appearance of the instruments. He does not go into the discusion of lathes. He concentrates making pens and pencils and the variations that can be created. I have his other book, "UNIQUE & UNUSUAL PENS from the wood lathe" and I refer to them quite ofen for new ideas. I also refer to "TURNING PENS AND DESK ACCESSORIES" by Mike Cripps which I also use

64 pages, full color, 9 gallery pages. Step by step pictures with detailed text on how to make pens/pencils on the lathe. This book was a must for making my first pen, and a great reference as I have progressed. Pens include: Standard twist (and pencil), Dome-top, Rollerball and Fountain, Cigar pen, Flat-top click pen, Flat-top twist pen, and desk pen.

I picked this book up on the recommendation of a friend. I've advanced to the stage where I'm getting pretty good at making dowels on an expensive lathe, and was feeling like I needed to find something that made me feel more productive. If I've got it figured right, my first pen will cost me about $4,000. After that, hopefully, economy of scale should set in (I hope). If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm pretty good in a wood shop, but an absolute newbie at turning.

I think my friend was being kind. Dick Sing assumes you have some familiarity with small gouges, skews and scrapers, which I do, and does little or no explanation of the turning part of pen making. He focuses on the intricacies of the equipment that is peculiar to pen making (mandrels, drilling jigs, etc.). Truth is, basic pen making is not a challenging occupation, and Dick Sing offers lots of pictures and straightforward text. This could have been called Pen Making for Dummies. In other words, anyone who can make a dowel on a lathe should be able to follow this book. Even me.

What is missing, though, is and real focus on creative pen making. But this I mean grooves, beads, and chatter work sort of things that can turn a pen into something other than a useful dowel. He does play around a bit with materials and an interesting desk pen, but for the most part this book is about kit making and not about custom pen making. Even so, it is a terse, but very useful, introduction.

Great book to get me started turning pens. A lot of good info and pictures. Covers all the basics well.

I found this book somewhat helpful, but found the pen-making books by Barry Gross substantially more helpful. I figure if I get just a couple of good tips from each book, it makes me a better pen maker, so I appreciate all the help I get from books like this.

I bought the book to get a feel for making pens. Although the book seems "old school" it does gives plenty of examples and hope it will bring years of enjoyment. I just received my jet lathe and can't wait to use it along with the book.

Nice pictures but not much information on the subject or details of the things needed to get to get the job started.