Intro to Wood Lathes: Turn a Pen
Details
Learn the techniques needed to turn and assemble a pen on the lathe. All materials provided!
Sign up for Intro to Wood Lathes: Turn a Pen
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Learn how to create a beautiful, handcrafted pen from start to finish using a wood lathe. In this hands-on class, you’ll turn a pen blank, shape it with turning tools, sand and finish the surface, and assemble a fully functional pen you can take home.
You’ll learn essential pen turning techniques including safe lathe operation, tool control, shaping, sanding, finishing, and final assembly. We’ll use core tools such as the wood lathe, pen mandrel, bushings, carbide or traditional turning tools, sanding materials, and a pen press.
No prior experience is necessary—this class is perfect for beginners and anyone curious about woodturning.
A handmade pen makes a meaningful and personal gift—especially with Father’s Day around the corner.
Please wear comfortable well-fitted clothing, close-toed shoes, put your hair up, and be prepared to get a little dirty!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
1. Welcome & Safety Overview (10–15 minutes)
- Introductions
- Overview of the process and finished example
- Lathe safety fundamentals:
- Proper stance and body positioning
- Tool rest adjustment
- Safe speeds for pen turning
- Eye protection and dust considerations
- Basic parts of the lathe
2. Materials & Tools Overview (10–15 minutes)
- Pen kit components (tube, tip, transmission, clip, cap)
- Pen blank and brass tube
- Mandrel, bushings, and how they work
- Turning tools:
- Carbide rougher and finisher (or roughing gouge/spindle gouge if using traditional)
- Sandpaper grits and finishing materials
- Pen press for assembly
3. Mounting the Blank on the Lathe (10–15 minutes)
- Demonstrate mandrel setup
- Installing bushings and blank
- Tightening properly without over-tightening
- Adjusting tool rest correctly
- Selecting proper speed
4. Turning the Pen Blank (45–60 minutes)
- Demonstrate basic cutting technique
- Proper tool control and body movement
- Turning from square to round
- Shaping to bushing diameter
- Creating smooth, even profiles
Students turn their own pen with guidance.
5. Sanding & Finishing (20–30 minutes)
- Proper sanding technique on the lathe
- Progressive grits (example: 150 → 220 → 320 → 400 → 600)
- Optional micro-mesh demonstration
- Applying finish (friction polish, CA finish, or oil/wax)
- Achieving a smooth, durable surface
6. Pen Assembly (15–20 minutes)
- Overview of pen press
- Proper order of assembly
- Pressing components safely
- Ensuring proper alignment and function
Students assemble and complete their pen.
7. Wrap-Up & Questions (5–10 minutes)
- Troubleshooting tips
- Basic tool recommendations for beginners
- Care and maintenance of their pen
- Questions and discussion
━━━━━━━━━━━PLEASE NOTE!━━━━━━━━━━━━━
We're excited that you're interested in this workshop and we're glad you found us! That said, this page is NOT the official registration for the class.
To officially save your spot, please make sure you finish signing up through the link below. If you don't, we won't be able to hold a spot for you, even if you've RSVP'd here.
If you're planning to join us, take a moment to complete registration so we know to expect you. We're excited to see what you make at Clear Creek Makerspace!