Readers,
As a new pen turner I was anxious to learn. I read a lot about tools, I read about techniques, and I watched a ton of youtube videos on how to turn a pen. I practiced for hours and I was getting better. However, I was still not making the pen that I wanted.
Then I realized I was using some very cheap wood to practice. This made a lot of sense, but softer woods were causing me to not reach my potential. Then I decided I was going to take a chance and get a mint piece of cherry burl. This was a turning point for me as a turner. Boy am I glad I spent the extra money. To this day my burl fountain pen is my favorite pen that I have ever made. My message is this, get your practice in, but don’t be afraid to take chances. See my work below!
What a great looking pen. Thank you for providing the instruction and inspiration to try my first pen. I was nervous too, but tried a $20 blank and I was pleasantly surprised with my results. I wouldn’t have tried without your inspiration.