Ok folks, here is the long promised video of our first audience participation turning project. I pulled out all the stops on this one and chose one of my cream of the crop blanks in my stash. This is also my first attempt as compiling a complete video. I had a lot of fun making this and I hope you enjoy it. I originally wanted to put out a two part video, but since the release was delayed I decided to make it one episode. It is a big file and the iTunes download could take while but I hope you will find it worth the wait.
As always, please email me your questions or comments on the show. I would love to hear what everyone thinks of the video. I would like to do more of these in the future but I need some more time working with my software to get all the advanced features right. Please send me your pics of your own completed pens too. In the coming weeks I will probably take a little break from turning and discuss some of the other woodworking styles that go on in my shop. If there is a topic you would like me to cover please drop me a line or a comment here in the blog and I will do my best to add it to the lineup. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and watching!
9 responses so far ↓
1 Michael // Oct 14, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Just watched the pen turning video. One suggestion is to not talk with all the machines running. Use a separate audio track that you merge in during the editing process while muting the video. Marc does this on his Wood Whisperer videos. This way we can hear what you are trying to say much better.
Really beautiful pen.
2 Shannon // Oct 14, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Kaytrim,
I know this is possible and thought about it but haven’t played with the function yet and was running out of steam. I really wanted to get this video out quickly since it was delayed a week. I appreciate the comment and will work on some slick audio tracks as well as some picture in picture stuff like Marc does. You can expect to see more video though because this was a lot of fun to put together.
3 Keith Burtis // Oct 14, 2008 at 9:53 pm
The pen video was very good! I loved it. You did a nice job. A couple of suggestions would be using a skew chisel to come to your final shape, and also lowering your tool rest a bit when roughing. Your tools are very sharp, but your angle of attack seems to be a bit high. I would have the tool rest at the bottom edge of your blank so that your not lifting the tool so high. When you bring the tool down towards your hip you allow the bevel to ride on the wood supporting the fibers and reducing tear-out. Then when switching to a planing action with your skew chisel you can raise your tool rest up and get a really smooth off the tool finish.
feel free to e-mail me anytime. i’d love to chat with you about any of your turning adventures.
Keith
4 Glyn Weir // Oct 15, 2008 at 12:24 am
Shannon, Great first video. It really cleared up some of the points in the audio only shows. Question for you, Any suggestions for pressing the parts together if you don’t have a pen press? It looks like a rather expensive item for someone that is just wanting to try pen turning before realy diving in. Thought about using a drill press with a padded blank on the table and a small padded mandrel in the chuck but even this takes some work tooling up. What did you do for your first pens?
5 Shannon // Oct 15, 2008 at 7:16 am
Keith,
It is great to have a turner as esteemed as yourself stop by. Great tip on lowering the tool rest too. I have been taught both ways but in hindsight I am realizing that I am lifting my tool handle way too high. I completely agree on using the skew to refine the shape. I was purposely trying to keep the tools used to a minimum in this video so that those who have never done it before would have a lower barrier to entry. For the record however, I do recommend using a skew chisel for final shaping of your piece. It will produce a very fine cut and clear up and possible tear out as well as greatly reduce sanding.
For the rest of my readers, please go check out Keith’s site. He is contemplating starting a podcast and we should all encourage him to go for it because the quality of his work is outstanding and I know he will have a lot to add to the community that I won’t be able to touch when it comes to turnings.
6 Shannon // Oct 15, 2008 at 7:20 am
Glyn,
I replied directly via email but for the rest of you out there. I originally used my bench vise to press the parts together. There are a variety of things I have heard of and seen people try for this. The key is something that won’t marr the piece and will provide steady pressure. It should also not require a bunch of set up and configuring. The more pens you make the more frustrating a set up will be when it comes time to assemble it. I even know a guy who presses his blanks together using paperback books. He gets a great workout assembling pens!
7 Mack // Oct 15, 2008 at 10:23 am
Kung Pao chicken, steamed dumplings, won ton soup. The perfect Chinese food order.
That wasn’t a part left over, was it? That would be the way my projects go…
Great video, Shannon. My pen lathe is due in late this week, and I may have to fight my wife to use it!
Thanks!
8 Barbara // Oct 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Great video and wonderfully beautiful pen. For the rest of you readers, I am the proud Mom living in Colorado so I really enjoy catching up with this website and the video. I am also the lucky recipient of many of Shannon’s beautiful creations. Nice going, son!
9 Lumberjocks Pen Swap Round 3 // Dec 5, 2008 at 1:30 am
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