Drill Press Problem!!!

[texasfootball21]

I get mine from hunters that just want the deer meat, garage sale's etc. I've been turning pens off and on for the last 10 yrs or so. Believe me I went through alot of pen blanks before figuring out how to turn them. I tried selling them but you have to make so many just to come out even. I had people tell me they can go to wal-mart and get a pack of 10 for under 2 bucks that will do the same thing,(kinda make's it hard to sell a pen set when people think like that). I was selling my pen & pencil sets for $65.00 which I don't think was to bad. Just the pen alone I was selling for 30 bucks depending on the wood I used. My black ebony pens were going for 45 bucks, but the ebony so expensive now days. I think right now it's going for $65.00 A POUND.

Bobby D

That's pretty close to what I ask for my pens. I know what you mean about the people who are looking for a 2 dollar plastic pen, very frustrating. I ask about $30 for a European roller or fountain pen. For Jr. Gentleman's and other higher quaility kits, I ask more.

Ebony is that high? Wow. I haven't worked ebony for a while. I once won a regional competition with an ebony pen with a design made into the wood. That meant I advanced to state, and I must have re-made that pen design 15 times for state. I won first but spent a lot of time and money on that ebony in the mean time. Got so sick of it I stopped turning it for a while.

What supplier do you get your kits from? I've been using woodcraft.com but just switched to woodturnerscatalog.com because it has more high quality kits, and better selections of blanks. Just dropped about $175 in a big order of very nice kits, only to find out my drill press won't hold the bits I need to make them.

I'm considering opening up an ebay or maybe a yahoo store to try and sell some of these pens. Here's where I got the idea : http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45270

Good to see another turner on the board.

[bdls]

I use to get my pen kits from woodcraft also, the pen blanks I get from Alamo Hardwoods here in San Antonio. Good luck on selling your stuff.
I didn't even know there was a compition on turning pens (not that I would have entered).
I stopped turning pens for a while and got into making parts for RC dragsters. Alot harder turning alumn. and steel than wood. This is not a relaxing hobbie.

On your drill bit, is it to long or won't fit the chuck. If it's to long heat it up with a torch to take some of the straingh out of it and cut it with a dremal, should be fine. if it's to big for the chuck can't help you here. sorry. Again good luck on selling them.
Bobby D.