Handmade woodturned bowls are a bestseller at craft markets and make excellent gifts, but we often hear from beginner woodturners that the process seems intimidating and possibly even dangerous. The most popular fear seems to be that it will crack or come flying off the lathe, which is definitely a […]
Kate Freuler
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Buying your first lathe is exciting. Imagine all the things you can make as gifts, for your home or even to sell, not to mention all the time you’re going to spend with the soothing, satisfying task of woodturning. Having your own lathe opens up new worlds for makers, but […]
As soon as you start woodturning, you quickly develop an appreciation for unusual wood with special features such as spalting, curl and burl. You’ll also notice that these unique wood types often have a slightly higher price tag. This is because they’re a little harder to come by than usual. […]
Lesson number one in pen turning: Precision is everything! You may have already learned this the hard way. Those tiny pen kit parts can be finicky. Something that seems like a small misstep in the beginning can become a big, glaring problem later, like unsightly gaps or even a pen […]
Woodturners love exotic wood for its huge range of colours and intriguing features. The problem is, sometimes it can be surprisingly difficult to finish. Many tropical woods in particular are oily, which can interfere with some of the most common finishing products. Unusual, interesting wood may be prized in pen […]
Sanding is an often unnoticed part of the turning process because the truth is, when it’s done well it doesn’t draw attention. When it’s done poorly, on the other hand, it’s the first thing that gets noticed. For many, it’s a chore and the least enjoyable part of turning. The […]
If you’re a beginner woodturner or a pen maker ready to branch out into larger projects, you might have questions about chucks. A chuck is inserted into the headstock of a lathe to clamp things in place, whether that’s a blank or a tool. Different chucks do different jobs. So […]
Something almost every woodturner can relate to is the struggle to keep all the smaller tools, bits and bobs organized. Bushings for pen turning in particular seem to go missing or get mixed up often, which is frustrating when all you want to do is get turning. Over the years […]
Every woodturner has different preferences when it comes to tools. One hotly debated subject is choosing between traditional chisels or carbide chisels. Which one is better? Well, there’s no simple answer for that! The fact is, they’re just different, each with pros and cons. Traditional chisels are usually made from […]
Now more than ever, Canadian woodturners are seeking out Made-in-Canada products and tools for their wood lathe projects. As a Canadian small business, William Wood-Write has your back! We know how important it is to our customers to source materials right here at home because it’s important to us too. […]
Woodturning is a fun, practical hobby, but any woodturner can tell you that it’s possible to get out of control while shopping! It isn’t easy to turn away from specialty pen blanks, new wood lathe tools and interesting project and pen kits. However, there are a few ways that you […]
One of the most common questions among beginner woodturners is how to sharpen chisels. There are lots of things to consider, such as the recommended angle for different chisels or what kind of grinding wheels and equipment is needed. Seasoned woodturners each have their own specific preferences for exactly how […]
If you’re venturing into the world of casting your own resin pen blanks, it can seem like there’s an overwhelming amount of things to learn. You can experiment with almost any material and with practice, create some really unique, visually stunning pieces. One important element of resin casting is choosing […]
Whether you’re a beginner woodturner or a seasoned pro, you’re probably always on the lookout for new projects to try turning on your lathe. While there really are no limits to what you can experiment with, having some woodturning kits for practice and inspiration is always helpful. No matter your […]
Have you ever stopped to wonder what it is about woodturning that you love so much? Well, the answer is simple: it’s good for your brain! Studies have shown that creative hobbies such as woodturning can help ease anxiety, alleviate depression and improve memory. Working with your hands on a […]
One of the most common and well-loved materials in pen turning is CA glue, also known as cyanoacrylate. It’s not just that it is great for gluing pen tubes into wood blanks; it can also be used to stabilize weak wood, create a durable finish and even repair mistakes! So […]
If you’re an experienced pen turner looking for a more challenging lathe project, wooden rings are a great choice. Wooden jewelry is popular at craft markets or in an online shop, especially for customers who are searching for something custom made. Rings made from exotic wood also present an opportunity […]
While browsing products for pen making and other wood turning projects, you’ll have seen references to MT1 and MT2. The letters stand for “Morse Taper”. A morse taper is a tool that fits into the headstock and tailstock of a lathe and has a hollow housing for inserting chucks, live […]
Have you ever wanted to repair a handmade pen, but weren’t sure how to safely disassemble it? Or maybe you’ve applied a glossy CA finish and ended up with your bushings covered in glue. These are common pen turner problems, and there are specialized tools to help deal with them. […]
If you’ve been selling your custom pens and other lathe projects at craft markets then you know that sometimes it’s hit or miss; what flies off the shelves at one event sits untouched at another. So how are you supposed to know what inventory to make, and who is going […]
Something we often hear customers say is that they’re overwhelmed by the choice of materials available for turning custom handmade pens on their lathe. Pen kits come in many platings and styles, and there are infinite blanks available. With all these options, how can you possibly decide what looks good […]
Not many people think about the inner workings of pens, but woodturners know better. If the parts of a pen aren’t assembled just so, the pen will not work properly. There’s nothing more frustrating than spending many hours turning and finishing a custom pen only to find that when you […]
Usually, those drawn to woodturning have a special appreciation for wood and the trees it comes from. Trees are ancient and most of them have a lifespan much longer than our own. It only makes sense that they have accumulated quite a bit of folklore over time, some of which […]
Thanks to online shopping, there is a huge range of wood, resin and acrylic blanks for pen turning at your fingertips. The choices available for crafting custom pens are genuinely endless. But burl, exotic woods and synthetic materials each need to be approached differently to prevent blowout and get that […]
Wood-turned pens are much more than just a writing utensil. Often, they’re treasured gifts made from exotic wood and custom materials. Really, they’re works of art. That’s why there are some things you should do to ensure your special pen has a long life and continues to look beautiful. With […]
Exotic wood for turning is usually prized for its striking appearance, but there are other factors that come into play. Many have unusual figuring and colours, with an additional story or anecdote, making them top choices for custom pens and other lathe projects. Here are some popular exotic woods along […]
Selecting pen kits for wood turning can be a little overwhelming. Not only are there hundreds of aesthetic styles, but there are technicalities to consider. Is a rollerball pen better than a ballpoint? Who uses fountain pens, and what for? We’ve broken down some information to make it easier for […]
If you’ve been turning pens for a while and are ready to expand your skill set, bottle stoppers are a fun next step. They also happen to be excellent handmade gifts, so if you’re selling your wood turnings at markets or online, they’re a great addition to your inventory. Turning […]
Acrylic pen blanks offer a remarkably wide range of colours and designs for turning. There are endless options, from colours to transparent hues to rainbow combinations and even inclusions like glitter or coffee beans. Sometimes wood turners are reluctant to try acrylic because it has a reputation for being brittle and […]
Many woodturners will tell you that their finish of choice for pen making is cyanoacrylate, commonly known as CA glue. CA glue creates a hard, durable and glossy finish while enhancing the grain and sheen of the wood. It’s accomplished by building up very thin layers of CA glue and […]
After you’ve been pen turning with for a while, you might want to try making your own unique blanks. This is where casting resin comes in. You can include colours, textures and objects in almost any combination. While the process may seem a little daunting at first, the right tools […]
Achieving a flawless finish on your wood turned pens and lathe projects can be a long process that requires patience, attention to detail and many stages of sanding. Wet sanding or using an abrasive paste are two ways to get your pen blanks to that satisfyingly smooth and flawless state. […]
There is an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to finishing your custom pens and other lathe projects. Some people swear by wax and oil products, while others always turn to shellac to get that deep, glossy look. When deciding what polish to choose when shopping for woodturning supplies, […]
Have you ever attended a craft market and noticed that other vendors are selling items similar to yours? Or if you sell handmade wood turned pens online, you may have noticed the market can be saturated. This is when it’s time to bring in something new and different to make […]
Stabilizing your own wood for pen turning can be a real trial-and-error process. There are so many variables that impact how your blanks will turn out, such as humidity and temperature. At William Wood-Write, we’ve been stabilizing our own pen blanks and project blocks for years and have learned a […]
If you’re working away on a wood turning project and discover cracks or holes, don’t panic. When it comes to exotic wood, especially unstabilized burl, you never know what you’re going to get. You might find a range of inclusions, fissures, bark or gaps. These details aren’t necessarily a bad […]
Turning between centers, or TBC for short, is a method for turning wood on a lathe without a traditional pen mandrel. This method uses a live center and a dead center to hold a pen blank and bushings in place instead of a mandrel, hence the phrase “turning between centers”. […]
Creating an inlay for handmade rings or other wood turning projects can seem intimidating at first. After all, something that looks so great must be difficult to do, right? We have good news: It’s easier than you think. With the right tools and materials, you can be a master of […]
Have you ever bought multiple pen blanks of the same wood and noticed varying colour, grain and density? This is probably because they came from different parts of the tree. Sapwood refers to the newer, outermost rings of a tree while heartwood is the older center. Then there is the […]
Have you ever seen those amazing wood turned projects that have multiple kinds of wood seamlessly pieced together? It’s impressive! Segmenting is a woodworking technique that combines various small pieces of wood, metal or acrylic to create a whole blank, which you can then turn on your lathe. It’s often […]
It’s a debate that can go on forever: Is stabilized wood better than natural wood when it comes to turning? Truthfully it comes down to what you’re making, what species you’re working with and personal preference. Stabilized wood has been thoroughly dried and then permeated with resin under vacuum. This […]
You’ve probably seen brightly coloured pen blanks, but did you know that you can make your own? While you can buy pre-dyed and stabilized wood for pen turning, alcohol based ink allows you create your own colour combinations and patterns that will make your custom pens stand out from the […]
Wood turners are always on the lookout for features in wood that make our projects stand out, whether that’s a unique grain, an unusual colour or the intricate patterns found in a nice piece of burl. One way to give meaning and value to a pen, bowl or other turning […]