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 […]
handmade gifts
40 posts
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Although tool preference will come down to the turners personal preference, not all chisels are made equal. For example, there are specialty chisels for projects like pen or bowl turning that will make your time on the lathe more enjoyable. We’re going to break down each type of chisel, what […]
When it comes to putting a top coat on your turning projects there are endless product choices, which can make it difficult to choose what finish is best for you. We’ll compare each of our wood finishes main ingredient, level of gloss and ease of application. Shellac Friction Polishes The […]
Mistake #1 : Improperly Squaring Up Pen Blanks Why is there a gap between my pen kit and barrel? One of the most common mistakes when it comes to turning pens is improperly squaring up the ends of your pen blanks. There are a few ways that a pen blank […]
William Wood-Write is here to wish our customers a very Happy Holidays, however you celebrate! We know it can be tough to find the perfect gift for everyone you care about, so we’re here to share our official William Wood-Write 2022 Christmas Gift Catalog. Whether you’re on a tight budget […]
While many pen turners have a stash of CA glue in their toolbox, not many know about the incredible versatility this glue has up its sleeve. Whether you find a crack in your nearly-finished pen blank or need to ensure your project’s long-term durability, CA glue will certainly come to […]
Handcrafted knives remain an extremely popular woodworking project, and William Wood-Write is here to help you get the most out of your handcrafted pieces. We carry a variety of different knife making materials, each with their own advantages, so you’ll be able to find the perfect material for your project! […]
Wedding season is in overdrive this year with so many postponed couples finally getting a shot at their big day. But how does this relate to pen turning? We’ll tell you. This surge in event planning offers an opportunity for pen turners in Canada. Approaching popular wedding venues, wedding planners […]
It’s an easy transition from pen turning to ring making, with only a few differences between the two projects. Even those experienced in wood turning will notice similarities between past lathe projects when diving into ring turning. Just follow these easy steps and you’ll have ring turning aced before you […]
Pen turners are makers at heart, so it’s not a surprise we also want to cast our own pen blanks. Creating a pen blank that’s one of a kind is alluring, offering unlimited possibilities when it comes to colour and material combinations. The process may seem intimidating, but the required […]
In the last 15 years, fountain pen turning kits have been regaining popularity as a very personal, elegant writing tool used for signatures, calligraphy, or special letters and notes. But, before turning your first fountain pen, there are a few things you need to know. 1) Basic Mechanics of a […]
Looking for your Cyanoacrylate glue to go the extra mile? We get it. CA glues are absolutely necessary when it comes to pen turning, but they aren’t always cheap. That’s why we’ve got the best tips to make those bottles of precious glue last as long as they can without […]
1. C-BOND CA Glue – Made in Canada! We’re very excited to offer a new, Canadian-made CA glue to our loyal customers! C-BOND is a general purpose instant/cyanoacrylate glue used to bond rubber, metal, plastics and wood, and is made in thick, thin, or EXTRA thin viscosities. If you’re looking […]
Turning your first pen is a simple and rewarding project, producing a finished pen kit in only a few hours.
You can buy confidently knowing the wood turner on your list won’t already have what you’ve wrapped up under the tree- with these 10 brand new products to Penblanks.ca
The time for Christmas gift shopping is upon us, and we here at William Wood-Write are excited to give you our top 10 best gifts for wood turners. Whether they are into technology, stationary, kitchen utensils or jewelry, William Wood-Write offers a huge variety of products to ensure that you […]
Do you ever find yourself in a fluster when you can’t find the tool or item you need? Do you find yourself ruining a project because you’re not organized? Leave that in the past by following these top tips to help you keep your shop organized. Storage for turning tools […]
Have you got a Christmas craft market fast approaching, or are you starting to stock up on handmade gifts with the holidays coming up? Taking photos of all the handmade pens you make will allow you to build an online inventory, whether they were intended for online sale or not. […]
Getting your finished pieces to their new owners can be daunting. Whether you’re shipping across the city or across the world, you want your handcrafted pieces to make it to their destination safely and in a timely manner. To help guide you in the process, William Wood-Write is here with […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to cancellation of many of our favourite craft shows, fairs and exhibitions this fall – events many of you count on to sell the items you make in your workshops. Although this is disappointing, all is not lost! There are still ways to reach customers […]
With endless styles of pen kits out there, a good way to narrow down your next project is deciding between a rollerball or ballpoint pen kit. Not sure what the difference is, or which is the best pen for your writing style? Here are a few easy ways to tell […]
If you’re comfortable with the basics, you can spend less time researching and more time turning. Often referred to by wood workers as their form of meditation, pen making is a satisfying hobby with limitless project possibilities. What you need to make a pen With endless kit styles, platings and […]
Pen turning can be a bit daunting when you’re first starting out, so we at William Wood-Write are here with 5 tips and tricks that will make sure you turning project comes out perfectly! While we could go on forever listing tips for a perfectly turned project, we’ve come up […]
Tips for Making Custom Pens Trying to pick the perfect pen blank for your project? Overwhelmed by the sheer variety of materials? Can’t decide if your calligraphy pen set should be in Amethyst Mine poly resin or Harley Flame acrylic? William Wood-Write is here to help! It can be tough […]
One positive outcome of the Pandemic is that it has brought our country together and urged so many to shop Canadian and support local. You’ll be happy to know that William Wood-Write is not only a Canadian wood turning supplier, but we also design and produce many of our pen […]
We get it, turning as a hobby can be a hit on the credit card. We find ourselves swiftly and mercilessly sucked into the addiction, wanting to spend allocated grocery money on pen blanks. But don’t fret! You can keep tooling investment low and turn to your hearts desire by […]