Gross Pen Turner's Workbook, 4th Edition Revised and Expanded

The Best-Selling Guide for Making Pens Using Wood and Resin
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-63741-218-3
Verlag: Fox Chapel Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 176 Seiten

Learn to turn and sell custom-made pens that are both practical and beautiful! In this newly revised 4th edition, author and expert pen turner, Barry Gross, provides new pen kits and mechanisms with up-to-date techniques, along with in-depth instruction and creative ideas for both the novice and the experienced turner looking for new ideas. From choosing a lathe to pen turning basics and even selling your work, no detail has been left out! Also included is a section on casting your own acrylic pen bodies, so you can customize by embedding your own artwork and memorabilia. Instructions for turning pens made from resin, Corian, InLace, antler, and other materials is included. New to this edition is expanded information on what makes a good pen, selecting materials, and tool maintenance, as well as 7 new projects and an updated gallery featuring gorgeous pens made by master pen makers.

Barry Gross, an expert woodworker and artisan with more than 30 years of experience, specializes in transforming wood and other media such as Corian - the kitchen countertop material - into amazing pieces of art and useful every-day items. A skilled teacher who knows how to start at the beginning, Barry volunteers solutions to his own mistakes with the hope of encouraging beginners to redesign rather than recycle. Barry is a member of the American Association of Woodturners, the Bucks County Woodturning Association and the Scroll Saw Association of the World. His art can be seen in various art galleries including Island Earth Gallery, Langman Galleries and Wylands Sae Life Gallery in New York. In addition, he has received commissions from DuPont and for the Alien Stinger display at the New York Aquarium. Barry was commissioned by the 'White House' to make pens as gifts to be given to foreign dignitaries and many local and state politicians. Barry Gross is the author of Pen Turner's Workbook, Learn to Turn and a frequent contributor to Scroll Saw Workshop magazine and Woodturning Design Magazine. He lives in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gross, Barry

Leseproben

PART 1

Gallery of Pens

There are many very talented and skillful artisans who create wonderful, handmade, one-of-a-kind fine writing instruments. The pens that you will see in this gallery show the work of some of these “master pen makers.” The artists include Brian Gisi, Anthony Turchetta, Mark Gisi, Seamus Rooney, Glenn McCullough, Dan Symonds, Hugh Scher, Jason Rose, Steve Wohlgemuth, and myself—all of whom are members of the prestigious Pen Makers Guild. However, the gallery is just a sampling of work. There are many more very talented pen makers who are part of this organization, and everyone in the guild shares their experience and knowledge so that each member’s skill can progress.

As your ability improves with each pen, the challenge will be to seek out other pen makers who could offer a different approach to pen making and to see if that method could be adapted to your individual style. The internet is a great tool to research and discover other skilled craftsman. Observe them and absorb the information they offer on pen making because that will increase your ability to manufacture one-of-a-kind pens. I hope you enjoy these fine writing instruments!

This amazing array of pens is featured on the gallery pages.

GLENN MCCULLOUGH

Glenn McCullough is an independent pen maker who incorporates exotic woods, antler, and resins into his pens. The accents he uses are precious metals such as rhodium, platinum, titanium, and sterling silver. Glenn is a member of the Pen Makers Guild.

McCullough’s Junior Retro rhodium rollerball is made from Trustone, Corian, acrylic, and guitar pick guard material.

Glenn McCullough presents a gentleman’s rhodium fountain pen in curly koa and alternative casein.

McCullough’s Platinum El Presidente curly ash and black acrylic pen incorporates guitar pick guard material and sterling silver wire accents.

SEAMUS ROONEY

Seamus Rooney is a member of the Pen Makers Guild who uses a scroll saw to cut his coins and casts them in clear resin to create these wonderful pens. Seamus has been casting pens for over sixteen years and has developed his own special style.

Seamus Rooney’s Titanic pen (top) is an Emperor Rollerball. He replaced the cap with a liquid-filled compass and layered the barrel with three coins in clear-cast acrylic. Australian pen (middle) is an Atrax fountain pen with a coin pierced and clear casted. At bottom, the pen barrel is a 30-06 Upshaw bullet with a pierced Texas quarter and clear cast in polyresin.

ANTHONY TURCHETTA

Anthony Turchetta has been making pens for over twenty years and creates a number of fascinating pieces using many acrylic type materials. Anthony is also a member of the Pen Makers Guild as well as other pen making groups. You can find more of his work at .

, a closed-end fountain pen, is made from Italian Lucite with a 14-karat solid gold nib.

This statesman fountain pen is made from orange and black swirl ebonite with a 14-karat solid gold nib. The rope pattern was cut on a legacy mill and then hand sanded.

JASON ROSE

Jason and his wife own Speakeasy Pen Emporium, and he has been making pens for over twelve years. He incorporates historic pieces of wood and other materials to create his unique fine writing instruments. You can find more of his work at .

This rollerball pen features pieces of wood from the and a metal piece of a Japanese Zero fighter plane over images of the ship and plane encased in acrylic. Jason made this pen to be placed on display for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.

The Iwo Jima antique brass rollerball pen contains a piece of volcanic ash sourced by the Iwo Jima Association of America that is embedded into the cap of the pen. The lower barrel is made from leather and black acrylic.

“The Queen of the Ocean” antique silver rollerball pen is made from a piece of wood and coal from the . Images of the and newspaper articles are placed over the pen tubes and then coated in resin for lasting protection.

BRIAN AND MARK GISI

Brian and Mark Gisi are a father-and-son team who are both members of the Pen Makers Guild. They started with a pen turning class at a local woodworking store over twenty years ago, and they have advanced pen making to another level. Brian calls this latest series his “exoskeleton” series, and Mark still uses very complicated segmented pieces to create his works of art.

Carbon Torpedo pen by Brian Gisi features integrated handcarved aluminum support structures with titanium rod accents. Brian has incorporated woven carbon fiber tubes and support beams with an intricate fin system of plate titanium.

Mark Gisi accents green-dyed buckeye and acrylics with color grain in vee and straight line patterns. The fine lines are made from green and white Gisi Designs accenting material with a custom carbon fiber clip.

Brian Gisi’s Black Widow pen features hand-cut titanium plates fitted over a carbon fiber tube with hand-turned acrylic and aluminum frame components assembled with more than 50 brass screws.

Mark Gisi combines rosewood cylinders and titanium bars with amboyna and buckeye burls in random angle patterns, accented with orange and black Gisi Designs with a custom carbon fiber clip.

DAN SYMONDS

Dan is a member of the Pen Makers Guild, and you can clearly see why. Each pen is custom designed and then crafted from the finest materials. Dan carves each piece with meticulous care—these are not overlays; they are carved from the original pen blank. All his pieces are unique functional pieces of art and are enjoyed by the people who purchase them. You can find more of his work at

This junior statesman closed-end fountain pen was Dan’s submission to the Pen Makers Guild. It is made from holly with carved rosewood, mesquite, and ebony.

A bespoke teal acrylic fountain pen accented on the cap and lower barrel with mottled ebonite. Hand-carved interlaced accents also adorn the center band and lower barrel.

This junior statesman closed-end fountain pen features carved musical notes that are the opening lines of Bach’s Partita in D minor for solo violin, BWV 1004. The body of the pen is purple-dyed maple burl with carved holly.

This slimline pen was upgraded by hand carving and dying mesquite wood to form a beautiful fine writing instrument.

Dan’s Safety Pen is made from acrylic, and its design is extremely difficult to master. The nib retracts into the body of the pen, and the body of the pen acts as an ink reservoir with the cap sealing the ink inside.

HUGH SCHER

Hugh, of Kanilea Pen Co., started making pens after reading the revised and expanded 3rd edition of He and his wife have turned his love for pen making into one of the most successful pen companies in world. Their writing instruments are inspired by Hawaiian locations that enable them to recharge their spirit and connect with nature’s elements. You can find more of their work at

Maui’s winding road to Hana takes you past a small, sheltered bay called Honokalani, which means “harbor of the chief.” This Honokalani fountain pen echoes the clear blue water that swirls in beautiful contrast to the glistening black sand.

On the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa, rich, volcanic soil nurtures the coffee planted there. This Kona Cherry fountain pen represents those reddest and ripest cherries (red, ripe coffee beans) that are handpicked for roasting.

The Kilauea Kai fountain pen recalls rivers of fiery, molten lava that scorched a path across the land and flowed into the sea, sending up a thick, gray haze. Kilauea, home to Pele—creator and destroyer—expands the Big Island even as it lays waste. Hugh customizes the proportions of orange and gray for each customer.

The color of the Kona Snow ballpoint pen represents the snow that appears on the Big Island for a few days every spring, blanketing Kona’s coffee plants in fragrant, white blossoms. Soon, flowers turn to green berries, hinting at the delicious promise to come.

Every evening, the manta rays arrive, drawn to the lights at Kauna’oa Beach. The gentle giants glide past silently, glowing in the luminous green water. This Manta Maile Lei fountain pen also features a wide argentium silver band with a lei of maile leaves. A lei made of maile leaves expresses many meanings and is used to celebrate important life events or is given as a sign of friendship. This maile lei band represents an unbroken circle of love, respect, peace, and friendship.

STEVE WOHLGEMUTH

As a retired surgeon, Steve employs the tactile and creative skills required by his former profession to create finely detailed and imaginative functional art. He has spent countless hours training to perfect his pen making skills. Steve’s main priority is to make custom products that are special for each customer. To see more of his work, visit...