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. […]
pen blanks
50 posts
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 […]
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. […]
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’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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
If you’ve ever seen the words “turn a tenon” in the instructions of a pen kit you are about to turn and thought “Oh no!”, William Wood-Write is here to help! Today we are going to be walking our loyal customers through the turning and assembly of The Budget Round […]
Whether you are just starting to explore the world of penturning or are a seasoned maker, we’re pretty confident that you have a 3/8″ drill bit laying around your shop. Our loyal customers know that many of William Wood-Write’s most popular pen kits use a 3/8″ drill bit, like the […]
We, here at William Wood-Write are very excited to announce that we now offer monthly Woodturner’s Subscription Boxes for our loyal customers! Our subscription boxes are a monthly surprise chocked full of popular products, upgraded blanks and top-selling accessories we know you’ll love. No matter which you choose, you’ll receive […]
When it comes to finishing pen and project kits, there are seemingly endless options of finishes to choose from, ranging from natural, food-safe waxes to specifically formulated chemical finishes. Whether you are working with acrylic, wood, or anything in between, it can be difficult to figure out which finish is […]
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 […]
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 […]
Who doesn’t love to save a few dollars here and there on their pen kits and turning blanks? We get it. The wood turning obsession takes over and you find yourself reasoning why you need another pen kit for the collection. We’re here to make your day, giving you the […]
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 […]