I have recently discovered this forum after purchasing pens most of my life and noticed all of the beautiful work by many members. I would like to get started making fountain pens but I have no idea how to get started. Do I need to take a workshop or can I just start off with some equipment and a pen kit? What is the basic equipment needed?

If it would be easier to point me to a web site on the subject please let me know.

Thanks for your insight and help.

Where are you located? There's a great conference this coming weekend in Sadorus IL and there's one in Provo, not sure of the date. If you cannot attend either, get in touch with Penn State Industries; they have a cd on pen making that many times they'll send for shipping cost. Join a pen making forum such as The Pen Shop .

Hope this helps...

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I live in the Washington DC area.

I'll tell you how I got started: I went to a class offered at a Woodcraft store in my town. I showed up, they handed me a pen kit, some blanks already drilled and with a barrel glued into them, and then they showed me how to set up the parts on a mandrel and get that on a lathe. Then, it was time to introduce me to the lathe, and let me go. About 30 minutes later, I was ready to finish and assemble the pen, and that was about it. I asked many questions, and went on my merry way with my first handmade pen.

Since, I've picked up a used lathe, bought a mandrel for it, some gouges and knives, and a few more pen kits, and have probably turned 10 pens or so. I sold three, gave some away, and am probably going to make a few more this weekend.

All you really need is a lathe, or a drill press that you can fit a mandrel into (they sell kits at pennstate)... and a gouge...and some glue, some sandpaper, and a kit, some wood for blanks (or acrylic).. and time. After you get started, you can go to penturners.org or arizonasilhouette.com and get all sorts of crazy ideas.

- George

Gepzo's pretty much got it.

The only thing I can say is:-
If there is no course locally for you, then get in a stock of wood & get the feeling of the lathe & cutting wood yourself before you try a pen. I have to confess that I cannot hand turn wood, I just can't get the nack. I use a metal working lathe with a saddle carriage and put the tools in the toolpost because I just cannot do it by hand. My most spectacular effort was when the chisel dug in, the handle broke and the point embedded itself in the shed roof & stayed there vibrating. After that I thought discression was the better part & gave up holding the tools.

Regards

Richard.

The best site with the best data base and knowledgeable members is the
IAP

A past President of the IAP lives in Woodbridge and there is also a number of penturners in the DC area who frequest the IAp and I would bet dollars to doughnuts any one of them would help you get started.