Woodturning: Make a Pen

Course Description

Make a handcrafted wooden pen from start to finish in this beginner-friendly project class. We’ll guide you through preparing the blank, turning it to shape, and applying a polished finish before assembling your pen. You’ll have the chance to practice foundational turning skills and lathe use while completing a beautiful project to take home.

*NOTE: This class does not certify students for personal lathe use. If you would like to work on the lathe outside of class time, you will need to take one of the” Intro Turning” classes (Handles, Bowls, or Lidded Vessels).*

Learning Objectives

After completing this course students should be able to:

• Identify required PPE and safe turning practices

• Understand proper lathe setup, speed selection, and workholding

• Demonstrate tool rest positioning and safe tool handling

• Prepare a pen blank: cutting, drilling, gluing brass tubes, and barrel trimming

• Mount and center the blank on the mandrel

• Use roughing gouges and spindle tools to shape a pen profile

• Sand and apply a friction finish

• Assemble a pen kit using a press