Pen Turner's Workbook, 3rd Edition Revised and Expanded

The most recommended pen turning book for beginners, and for good reason. Barry Gross walks you through 18 projects with clear, full-color photographs at every step, building your skills from a basic slimline pen all the way to elaborate custom designs.

Why Start Here

Most pen turning resources online are scattered across forum threads and YouTube videos of varying quality. Gross’s workbook solves that problem by giving you a single, structured path from zero experience to confident pen maker. He starts with the fundamentals: choosing a lathe, understanding pen kits, selecting wood blanks, and setting up your workspace safely. Then he moves into projects, each one introducing a new technique or material.

What makes this book stand out is how beginner-friendly the instructions are. Gross does not assume you have any prior woodturning experience. He explains what each tool does, shows you exactly how to hold it, and photographs the results at every stage so you can compare your work to his. If something goes wrong, you can usually spot where you diverged just by flipping back through the photos.

The 3rd edition adds coverage of resin blanks and updated pen kit hardware, keeping the book relevant to the current pen turning landscape. It also includes a section on marketing your pens if you want to turn the hobby into a side business.

What to Expect

At 144 pages, this is a focused, practical guide. The first section covers tools, materials, and safety. The middle chapters present 18 projects in order of increasing complexity. The final section touches on finishing techniques and selling your work.

You can realistically complete your first pen within a few hours of picking up this book, assuming you have access to a lathe and a basic pen kit. Gross includes shopping lists and supplier recommendations so you know exactly what to buy before you begin.