Anyone out there know of a great hidden gem to get pen kits at a great deal?  I have gone to many of the stores (Woodcraft, Exotic Blanks, PSI, Berera, etc) who all have great selections and similar prices.  However, as an intermediate wood worker/ turner I am extremely uncomfortable asking someone to spend $30 or more on a pen I made.

 

I started making my own blanks to offset the costs associated with pen making, but a good pen still costs around $10-15 before I budget in labor and profit margins.  I know some people make 'kitless' pens, but the hardware still comes from somewhere, right?

 

So where do you go to get supplies?

The hardware for the pens I usually buy from Craft Supplies USA. They have good service.

 

Here's a couple of lesser known suppliers-

http://www.woodturningz.com/default.aspx

 

http://www.arizonasilhouette.com/

These Trim Line Kits make a decent pen and are very reasonable. 

 

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKXMPAK.html

 

18 hours ago, HandyDan said:

These Trim Line Kits make a decent pen and are very reasonable. 

 

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKXMPAK.html

 

Funny, I just had 24 of these delivered, 12 pen and 12 pencil.  I think they will make great graduation/ fathers day gifts as matching pen and pencil sets.

 

" I am extremely uncomfortable asking someone to spend $30 or more on a pen I made. "

 

I don't know of a good source but that is exactly one of the reasons I shied away from pens and haven't turned one for a few years. On the other hand I know guys who routinely sell the cheapo PSI pens for $50.00 and more and it seems to me they sell a fair few of them.

This is off subject but here's a story, don't know if I've told it here before now. It's true and teaches a good lesson I think. I recently did my first show, a small venue in a country barn. I thought it would be a good place to start for me as most items would be priced fairly low.

There were probably 25-30 vendors displaying. One of them was showing carved and pierced goose and ostrich eggs, beautifully done and he had a very nice display. Most of eggs were priced in the 25-30 dollar range. I asked him how could he do them so cheap? He said, they are supposed to sell for 75-100 but he knew he couldn't get that much in Huntington at a sale like this.

Another artist displaying was a friend of mine and this show was a change of pace for him. He normally does high dollar juried shows and many of his items were $250.00 and up. His name is Fred and he told the egg guy his stuff was too cheap. The egg guy repeated that at this show in this town he could never sell his eggs if they cost more.

Well, the show started, my friend Fred sold a $400.00 walnut vase in the first half hour, the person who bought that vase also bought another piece from him. I had a decent day but Fred made several such sales that day. He told me later he'd carried that vase from show to show for about 5 years.

Don't sell yourself short, if you're doing work nice enough that people want to buy, charge for your time, not just the time spent on a particular item but the years and effort it took you to get there.

 

Steve

You live in a gated neighbor hood ?? Craft fairs seems to set up on the other side of town in our area...

Steve, thank you.  I always tell myself not to undervalue my work, yet when push comes to shove I always hesitate at the end.  I am making 2 pens right now for a client, both kits alone cost $17, blank is another $5.  I honestly should charge $0-$50 for these pens once said and done, but I hold my breath every time waiting for the backlash.

 

Just something I need to get over, thank you for the inspiration.

18 minutes ago, Joe Candrilli said:

Steve, thank you.  I always tell myself not to undervalue my work, yet when push comes to shove I always hesitate at the end.  I am making 2 pens right now for a client, both kits alone cost $17, blank is another $5.  I honestly should charge $0-$50 for these pens once said and done, but I hold my breath every time waiting for the backlash.

 

Just something I need to get over, thank you for the inspiration.

 

I was talking to Stick and he reminded me of the pen and stands I make.  There is a pen that Captain Eddie Castelin makes using the ink cartridge from a standard Bic pen.  He calls it a 12 cent pen because they are cheap to purchase.  I have given dozens away over the years and people love them.  You could make and offer them cheap and sell the kits made pens at a higher price.  I make a stand for the ones I make and call them computer pens.  Set it by the computer and you will always have a pen at the ready.  I use a tapered reamer to set the hole in the pen stand.

 

 

 

I have been looking on Amazon. They have quite a few 10 packs from $25 and up.

Got this in an email a couple of days ago-

 

http://www.cookwoods.com/woodcraft-tool-supplies/pen-crafting/pen-blanks/

I sell my pens for $35 and up. do great work, ask a fair price. (a good rule for shop labor is

$50 to $100 per hour) and people will buy your product. Asking too little can give people the impression that your work is cheap.

 

Bad video.... Holding wire with your hands around anything

spinning is down right dangerous.