Pen Kits

[srkeim]

Does anyone know where I can get bulk pen/pencil kits for turning at good prices? Need to turn a few gifts to start paying for the lathe...

[Ken Massingale]

Woodturningz is the lowest I know of.

[final_t]

Looks like they buggered the server there.
You might also want to look at Penn State's special:
65 slimline pens (no pencils) for $97.50 - works out to about $1.45/each
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/e-10286.html

[leehljp]

Just a note on pencils, most people that I know (from a pen turning forum) who make pens for sale and then support their sales - say that there there are no consistantly dependable pencils. For some reason the transmission on the pencils cause considerable trouble with customers. This seems to be across several different brands.

[DonHo]

I've had very good service from these people and they have kits from more than one place with prices at least as good and in some cases better.

http://www.augumspenworks.com/


DonHo

[mpauly]

Head over to the www.penturners.org, they have lots of good info over there. I just recently got in on a group buy from Craft Supply with a 25% discount.

The others have made some good recommendations, but another mom and pop type operation that has been getting good reviews for low prices and good service is Wood Whimsies. Their website isn't the greatest but their prices are about the lowest I've seen (no idea about shipping costs.). Might be worth a look.

http://www.woodnwhimsies.com

Michael

[ke4rdb]

I also will say http://woodturningz.com, they are great place to do business with. If its in the Penn State Catalog, you can order it from them at a much better price. There website does not list all they sell, just use the Penn catalog to order from. Also they sell nice wood at very good prices.

James

[dozer]

This is where I buy most of my pen kits
http://arizonasilhouette.com/index.htm

Another good place is
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/index.html

[leehljp]

One thing I like about Arizona Sil (mentioned by Dozer above) is that he usually throws a free pen blank in with each order of a few pens. He is a no-nonsense fellow and some people don't like him. His service is great. He posts the information on his web site and follows it to the "T" about his service. He does not ship overseas but I still order from him and have him ship to my daughter on certain pens.

One company not mentioned so far that is getting a great following is Bear Tooth Woods here http://www.beartoothwoods.com/catalog/

He ships fast; I have ordered from Ernie many times and he does ship overseas. I ordered some pens (22) last week on Wednesday and the package arrived here in Japan on Monday. The postage was less than $10.00 for overseas.

[srkeim]

thanks

thanks for all the tips!!!

[drumpriest]

I've made a bunch of pencils, and they are out in the world. So far no real complaints. I would say that they aren't as nice as a good pentel for action, but much prettier, so there is a trade off.