Rough Shaping Pen Blank (Step 7)

The pen blanks (mounted on the mandrel) can now be turned to their rough shape on the lathe. During this step, the artist can decide the shape of the pen, which is only limited to ensuring that the ends of the pen match the diameter of the bushings, which is where the metal hardware will meet the wood. The artist will often stop and check his progress and make adjustments to maximize the grain pattern to ensure a spectacular figure on the wooden pen.