Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Pen Turning Kits
George in Celina
>I have just started turning pens and I discovered that not all pen kits are of the same quality. I am looking to make a number pens for Christmas presents and would like to order a number of kits now. I am mainly looking for MB look-a-like and the flat top roller-ball style. My main criteria is easy-to-assemble and look nice. Cost is third in priority since these are gifts and am not going into production (yet). Who is your favorite kit vendor?
Berea Hardwoods, hands down
BubbaBob
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Re: Pen Turning Kits
Greg W. in NC
>Berea is excellent, and you can spend as much as you want - sterling silver, rose gold, Tn, etc. Also check out Craft Supplies - they also have nice kits with good finishes, too (Tn, platinum {which really isn't platinum but rather a mix, but nevertheless it is long lasting and looks great). I would recommend either one. You can save money and shipping by ordering from Bill Baumbeck at ArizonaSilouette.com. Tell him I sent you....or better not, he might charge you extra! ha!
Re: Pen Turning Kits
Philip Duffy
>Well, after a non-result, I put an "H" in after the "L" in Silhouette and got it! - - - Hope to save others the frustration. Phil
Re: Pen Turning Kits
Tony - Memphis
>I was real unhappey with the Berea stuff. The screw caps don't stay tight and cause the pen to leak in your shirt pocket. Happened to me and my father in law. I have been using the Crafts USA snap top kits and have been pretty happy with them. Berea probably sells those too, but I haven't tried getting them from them. I turn just a few pens now and then. Heck, for all I know they are selling them to Crafts USA! Who knows.
Good luck with it.
Tony
Re: Pen Turning Kits
Joel Hunnicutt
>Love doing business With Bill, But I can never spell silhouette! Usually I end up doing a goolge search, just to get my spelling corrected.
Re: Pen Turning Kits
Jack (Turtle Workshop)
>Give the folks at Woodturningz.com. They have a great attitude and have the best prices in town. I've yet to have a bad product from them and I generally order about 40-50 pens a week.
Jack
Re: Pen Turning Kits *LINK*
RevDoug
>I'll second woodturninz.com. Never had a miscue yet. If by chance he doesn't have them in stock, he'll check with you to see if you want to wait. If he can't get them, he'll tell you so you can look elsewhere. I don't believe you can go wrong with Ryan.
Turn 'em round,
RevDoug
Wood Spun Round
Re: Pen Turning Kits
Brian Gray in Sandusky, OH
>My favorite pen to make is the Gentlemen's Pen, from the Woodturner's catalog. (craft supplies)
That being said, my favorite company to work with is Berea. Berea is about an hour from my house, and sometimes work takes me near there.
Jim and Larry are top notch guys. (they tell me that they are working on a pen to compete with the Gentlemen's pen...which would put all my supplies under one roof.)
One thing that a lot of people don't realize is that they carry a TON of exotic lumber and turning blanks. If you are ever near Cleveland, you HAVE to stop at Berea to check out their exotic blank and lumber supply.
They are very close to Hopkins airport.