My Story In Wood Turning
WOODTURNING BY JB·WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018·
I started making pens when I was stationed in Wisconsin, the winters were brutal and I needed an indoor hobby. One day I was helping a friend with work around the farm, when he mentioned that he had a lathe and that he made pens in the winter. After he taught me the basics, I went to the local machine shop and bought all of the pen kits they had. I used my friends lathe, tools and supplies to make that first batch of pens. After I made the pens, I had to temporarily go to Kentucky and South Carolina for 45 days to teach classes to Soldiers. During that time, I sold all of the pens I had made, and made enough money to buy a lathe when I got back. I then joined a local wood turners club, and one of the members gave me a set of tools to use. I then started watching YouTube to learn more about woodturning and met a guy that showed me how to make my own tools. This guy had made hundreds of videos of how to turn wood on a budget. I became friends with him, and he introduced me to Woodturners of America and Pens for Troops. He would send me the pen kits and the wood, and I would make the pens and send them back to him. He would send those pens to be distributed to deployed service members. I made over 1000 pens during that time and became addicted to wood turning. Now I take a portion of my profits and buy my own pen kits and wood to make the pens I donate to Pens for Troops. Cap’n Eddie Castelin my friend from YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh48-qjFjHhHCDPuuPZg4VQ
The Freedom Pens Project where you can get more information about Pens for Troops. http://freedompens.org/
A-Line Machine Tool Company in Wisconsin where I bought my Pen supplies, and who introduced me to the Wood Turners Club. http://www.alinetools.com/
