Pen Turning | How To - 311 

The most relaxing way to do turning is to make pens of any description. The time flies by and it encourages people to start writing again instead of using electronic mail.

I've watched a ton of these videos online and this is the most clear explanation of the process. Thanks Jay.

This is the new standard for pen making videos. Great job!!

Yup! Still on my to-do list! Thanks for the re-inspiration. Very well inscribed process. Less intimidating than before...

Thanks for the detailed description of the tools and components. This video made it a lot easier to understand. Getting small lathe is on my list. Based on your explanation this seems a good way to learn techniques.

I can’t thank you enough! After watching your video I ordered the kit - 3 months ago! I then watched your video six more times and finally turned my first slimline today. I started woodworking just over 2 years ago and this is the first thing I made which went right from start to finish - all thanks to your video. Again, thank you for all the details. All the best to you and your family for Christmas and the New year.

Jay, great video! I have been wanting to do this for a long time. Now I feel more comfortable with the idea!

Thank you for actually showing what is needed. Bubinga is fun to say! 🤣👊🏻

Great video, simple and to the point

wow. I know for a fact that I will never ever do any sort of lathe turning but omg, it is so nice to watch others do this (by others I also mean more experienced and skilled people). I could watch this all day lol

Thank you Jay Awesome video with great tips and instructions. Take Care.

I know there are a lot of pen turning videos out there, but I think you did such a good job Jay. Really clearly explained and some great pointers. Glad you made the video!

Another high quality video with interesting content. Thanks. ☺

I have this exact kit. Now I feel way more confident that I can do this. Thanks for the great video

I know I'm about 4 years too late, but it was a great video. Probably the best I've seen yet. I bought the same exact kit and I can't wait to make one.

I haven't used my lathe at all this year and the last thing I turned was a paper towel bar for the shop.... I need to turn some pens. Looks easy! Thanks Jay!

Rockler have thought of everything in that kit and the press! Love Olive Wood and the smell of it! Lovely work Jay as usual and I for one like being shown new or relevent gear!

Awesome video. Really helpful. Can’t wait to start making my own!

Excellent tutorial! Up until last week the last time that I used a lathe was 32 years ago in high school. I took a pen turning class at Rockler and made 2 beautiful Manhattan style pens using crotch Walnut. Everything in your tutorial was pretty much exactly what the instructor said and did. We used Mylands Cellulose Sealer and Mylands High build friction polish instead of the products that you used. Looks like they both give great results. I have made 3 more pens since using the Slimline kits included in the Beginner's Pen Turning Kit.

Nice one, thanks for the quick refresher and as usual very informative 👍🏼

Very informative Jay. Great job!!

Great video. I am retired US Army Vietnam vet w/ 20 years and retired police with lots of spare time. A few years ago my brother Tom, got me started/addicted to making pens.My first pen was a slimline pen and it was kinda sorta OK, but when I sent a photo to Tom, he asked why I didn't finish it. Hmmmmnn wondered what that meant. I eventually ended up making hundreds of pens, from the slimline to some really beautiful fountain pens sets. My wife grabbed up the Fountain pens along with the roller ball sets of pens with letter opener all in a nice wood box. I gave most of the pens to my kids and grandkids to sell and let them keep the money. The only downside of my pen making, was all the dust I was making, even with the overhead dust collector by Jet. One daughter is a Paramedic and teaches classes. I gave her about a hundred pens with the medical logo inlay to hand out to the people that helped her in her classes. I spent a lot of money on making those pens, but was well worth it. Medical issues finally ended my pen making, so I gathered up all the wood on hand and sent it to my brother who still makes pens. He gives them to his golfing buddies or sells them when asked. It's a great hobby, if you can control the impulse to buy special and often not needed tools. I bought about 15 different hand tools to turn the pens, but found the EWT easy wood tools tools with the high speed tips the best. They say once the tip get dull simply turn the tip to another edge and when all sides are dull order new. (Not) I simply place the tip flat side down on a sharpening stone, a few strokes and it's good as new. I purchased wood I never heard of, until making pens. There are dozens of companies advertising pen making tools and equipment. I have bought from Rockler and found them great to work with and not just for pen making. I also ordered from PennState where I got my start making pens. Again, yours is a great video, just wish it was around, when I got started . Thanks for making and sharing your video. Keep on your twin, sometimes he looks like he is slacking off. .....Ken

Great video, Jay! You explained everything SO well! I still need to do some pens on my lathe. Maybe I will now.

Congrats on the 500k subs

Nice job on the video and the tutorial. I just picked up this kit today along with a Jet mini lathe. Looking forward to doing a few of these.

Great video, Jay! Thanks!

Great video, lots of info! Thanks!!

Great Tutorial!! Have always wanted to do this

Super video, I've watched several and this one really was great detail I needed !

Awesome work Jay! 👍👊

Great video! Simple and needed info

Great video! I’m just getting started with turning.

Impressive work Jay.

That was awesome jay. Thanns for share with us..

Great video Jay. I’m turning ice cream scoop handles for presents and plan to try pens next. As always your video is very well done and helpful.

Congratulations on the 500 K subs . You deserve it man!

Great video as always.

Nice tutorial. Congrats on 500K!

Very informative. Thanks for the video!

Just what I needed... ordered the kit today!

MT = Morse Taper Make certain you get the correct taper for your particular lathe. Good video instructive. Harry UK

Sweet! lathes are definitely fun

Loved the video!! Thank you

I'm surprised Rockler didn't include a tube insertion tool in their kit. I recommend it so you don't get glue on your fingers and can use the barrel trimmer on both ends. BTW ... good job ... I teach pen-turning at our local woodturning studio.

First vid I've noticed since you adopted your baby girl. Hope all is going well and that you and your wife are getting some sleep :). Thanks for the tips, was thinking about a mini lathe for small turnings.

Another great video

Great video! Thanks!!

Thanks for sharing... Motivating...

Thank you for such a clear explanation without saying er...um....you know...ok all the time

I've made a couple thousand pens. This was a good beginner video. I would highly suggest for pen makers to work their way to using CA Glue for the finish. A little difficult in the beginning to learn, but once mastered brings on an almost forever life to the pen.

So nice to see someone not plasticize their pens with CA glue finish! Great job on this video and beautiful pens. My drill press sucks, so I found that drilling out the blanks on the lathe was easier and I get straighter holes. Also, the mandrel saver is a must have in my book.

Amazing!!!!

Looks like fun

I like It...from Italy

I feel like we need a persistent bubinga counter on all Jays videos :D

Very helpful thanks

I've got a small cheap arbor press from Harbor Freight. Glued a scrap of HDPE to the end of the press ram and another to the press table. Best pen press I've ever used. So much faster than screwing clamps and clamp style presses. Also cheaper than an actual pen press.

Hi Jay, nice instructions and end products. Sometimes you need to adjust where on the blank you cut it to get the best from the grain. I've had some blanks that were really nice toward one end but boring the other so couldn't cut it exactly in half.

Awesome job and very nice video to my brother I will see you later :)

Nice video Jay, thanks for all the details. This is actually the 2nd time I've watched this, and I thought of a question. With other kits that aren't slimline, such as bolt-action pens or cigar pens, where they use 8mm tubes, or sometimes 10mm tubes instead of the slimline's 7mm tubes, do you need a separate mandrel? I wasn't sure if the inner diameter of the tubes also increased along with the outer diameters.

Thanks Jay. I saw a inexpensive lathe for sale locally. Being retired it would be good for me to have a hobby.

Cool thanks for the tips all right Babinga, babingo

Thanks

Jay, are there pencil kits (or parts) available to make sets? Great explanation of the process.

Usual INTERESTING content thank's this was very INTERESTING. Oh forgot to say BUBINGA !!!! I think we should call you "Baron Bubinga"

pen turning kit, time to start dropping some hints to my wife.

Hey Jay, what do you think of the rockler cross cut sled?

Dang it Jay, now I have to go buy a lathe!

Very Cool! What lathe do you have? your shop page doesnt mention it that I can see! Not counting the exotic hardwood blanks, what to you estimate the cost in hardware to build a slimline pen is? For economy, I assume you turn more than one in a sitting?

I live 4 minutes from Blaine, Minnesota. I'd never heard of Seejay's Place. Then there's some dude wearing their shirt in Mississippi. ...small world

I am looking for a budget drill press that will keep me from having flip the blank over to do the other side. Ideas?

I've had a piece of oak from the huge oak tree at the end of The Shawshank Redemption that's been dying to be made into a pen for my dad who's a huge fan of the film. Maybe I'll actually give it a go.

Hey there for that pen starter kit I noticed the pen blanks are actually longer than the brass bushing is that normal or are you supposed to cut the blank even shorter? Thanks, Joseph

MT = Morris Taper, there are a few sizes. 1-3 might be a 4.

You you mind telling us where you find AAA and clear coat not at lumber yard or at Home Depot, thanks

MT 2 is Morris Taper, I never heard of a Mike Tom taper.

I have watched two of these videos,is there a reason you don't use the lathe to drill pilot hole thru blank.Also I believe the "MT2" on the pilot designates the size and angle of taper.M for Morse, T for Taper, Morse Taper #2.

Wow, this is a good instruction video!! Even I, an amature Dutch guy, learned from this. But I'm not sure what the penmill does. Is it essential to have this? Or just cut the blank at size as the tube inside it? And do you also have a video link to a non slim pen? Thx!

Good how to

Thanks, Jay. I gotta start turning pens! Now I just need a lathe... and space to keep one... [sigh] #toolenvy

Never did any pens or lathe work, but how do you know what size to turn them down too?

Btw great video

Do you have a link for the mandrel saver? I didn’t see it listed in your tools used list. Thanks for de-mystifying the process.

Hey Jay, enjoyed this video. What lathe would you recommend? was thinking about the excelsior from rockler.

Is the Stick Fast CA glue the same as Krazy glue or Gorilla glue?

fun! the beginners kit makes it easy but do some research first turned my first pen tonight and my daughter (10yr) tried to claim it

Great work, as usual, Mr. Jay! Just wondering....have you ever applied a stain to some wood for a pen? Or, do you always just use the base wood, followed by the paste and finish? Keep it up, brother!

BUBINGA!!! Challenge for you Mr. Bates... How many videos can you subsequently do without saying "BUBINGA"?

Muy hermoso sus videos pero no dan información de dónde comprar el herrajes

What? No lubricant laxative finish?

Holy crap. The clear coat expires in my 40th birthday.

Well........where's Dad? insert smiley here!

Do you sell any pens ?

Is that a new leather tool belt design?

Hi. Can you make to order?

Any chance I could send you a could blanks of wood and you could turn them into pens for me? Want to give it as a little gift to the first furniture customer I've had. I think a pen from the same wood as the project would be kinda neat. Thanks! (I'd obviously pay for shipping and time and materials too)

hi Jay, I've been following you for two years, can I have your own channel stickers? I would be proud to attack it on the wall of the most famous makers I follow, congratulations for the channel

What do ya know, bubinga 😂😂😂

i Would not recomend pressing your pen in metal vice do the fact like the one he has can chew up the metal parts that you would be using to put in the blanks when putting the pen to gather

Bruh I did mine the opposite way I can’t take out the rotating piece and I broke it damn my teacher gonna be mad 😭😭