Seth Roland

[Seth Roland]

Hi. My name is Seth and I'm 17. I've been turning since 2014 when my great uncle visited and taught me the basics of wood turning. Currently, I am turning to save for college and build our business and I really enjoy it! I mostly make pens but have also made some small bowls and other random things. Three of my brothers also do woodturning for their college funds. Here is a link to our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/woodnotch/

I've seen a lot of talent here and hope to learn a lot.

Seth

 

[hockenbery]

Welcome Seth.
You work looks great!

I expect to visit Tucson sometime in the next year to see two good friends who are turners.
Elizabeth and Frank Amigo just moved to Oro Valley. They are both accomplished turners and both do significant work for AAW.

Have you visited any woodturning clubs? These are great for connecting with other Woodturner's, picking up new techniques, and a wealth ideas.

There are two chapters of the AAW IN THE Tucson area.
Desert Woodturner's and the
Southern Arizona Woodturner's

Al

 

[Zach LaPerriere]

Right on, Seth. Welcome, and thanks for introducing yourself.

Great looking work. If you keep your standards high, you'll always take the time to do your best and you'll do fine work. Looks like you're on a great path.

Best,
Zach

 

[Odie]

Wonderful, Seth......you are an inspiration!

-----odie-----

 

[Lamar Wright]

Hello Seth, welcome to the forum and like Odie said, you are an inspiration!

 

[Odie]

You seem to have a lot of enthusiasm Seth........So, tell us......Where do you want to take it from here?

You've mentioned that you turn for college funds, and that is a noble goal......but, take some caution with this approach. If your goal is to make money, that philosophy will contribute to how you "connect" with your work.

-----odie-----

 

[Seth Roland]

Thank you all for the encouragement!

You seem to have a lot of enthusiasm Seth........So, tell us......Where do you want to take it from here?
-----odie-----

Thank you. Right now I am concentrating on making pens for upcoming shows as well as keeping up with school. I'll be going to college next fall. I still have not decided for sure what I want to do for a living but one thing I am definitely considering is going into the pen making business. I have thoroughly enjoyed pen making so far and want to keep doing it and improving on it. I do have other interests as well such as trombone and piano playing, horse back riding, and our family raises dogs which I also enjoy.

 

[Seth Roland]

Welcome Seth.
You work looks great!

I expect to visit Tucson sometime in the next year to see two good friends who are turners.
Elizabeth and Frank Amigo just moved to Oro Valley. They are both accomplished turners and both do significant work for AAW.

Have you visited any woodturning clubs? These are great for connecting with other Woodturner's, picking up new techniques, and a wealth ideas.

There are two chapters of the AAW IN THE Tucson area.
Desert Woodturner's and the
Southern Arizona Woodturner's

Al

Thank you for the welcome and the information. I have not joined any clubs yet but may do so in the future. I'll have to look into the ones you mentioned.

 

[Lamar Wright]

Thank you all for the encouragement!



Thank you. Right now I am concentrating on making pens for upcoming shows as well as keeping up with school. I'll be going to college next fall. I still have not decided for sure what I want to do for a living but one thing I am definitely considering is going into the pen making business. I have thoroughly enjoyed pen making so far and want to keep doing it and improving on it. I do have other interests as well such as trombone and piano playing, horse back riding, and our family raises dogs which I also enjoy.

Hello Seth.... I made pens for 4 years and and sold many and gave many as gifts. I really enjoyed pen turning and made enough money to put back into my shop and buy new turning tools that I wanted. You can make money (if that is your goal) turning pens just depends on how many hours you can put in at the lathe.... I had a pen production line set up in my shop so that I could supply my sellers like Etsy, Ebay, galleries, jewelry stores....ect. Marketing is a big part of selling pens if you won't to be successful. I did not start out to sell pens......it was just something that developed.

After making pens for so long I knew that I wonted to learn to turn other things like bowls, platters, hallow forms ect. so that is what I'm doing now and this is such a great place to learn. Turners here are so nice and willing to help Newbies like me. Seth, you are never to old to learn! The main thing is to have fun and enjoy your turning. Anything that I can help you with on penturning I'll be glad to help. Happy turning!

 

[Dave Fritz]

Seth, welcome and it looks like you're off to a great start with your pen turning. I'm a bit confused about the photo of "Thuya boxes from Morocco". Do you import those or do you make them?

 

[John Torchick]

Welcome to the forum. As suggested, join a woodturning club. I did this about 4 years ago and never regretted the 45 minute drive or the yearly dues. Well worth it as the club has demonstrations from member and well known turners. We had one demo about three months ago by two member who turn pens. Different approaches to the same thing. One makes about 300 pens a year.

 

[Seth Roland]

Hello Seth.... I made pens for 4 years and and sold many and gave many as gifts. I really enjoyed pen turning and made enough money to put back into my shop and buy new turning tools that I wanted. You can make money (if that is your goal) turning pens just depends on how many hours you can put in at the lathe.... I had a pen production line set up in my shop so that I could supply my sellers like Etsy, Ebay, galleries, jewelry stores....ect. Marketing is a big part of selling pens if you won't to be successful. I did not start out to sell pens......it was just something that developed.

After making pens for so long I knew that I wonted to learn to turn other things like bowls, platters, hallow forms ect. so that is what I'm doing now and this is such a great place to learn. Turners here are so nice and willing to help Newbies like me. Seth, you are never to old to learn! The main thing is to have fun and enjoy your turning. Anything that I can help you with on penturning I'll be glad to help. Happy turning!

Thank you for sharing. So far, in the few years that I've made pens, it has been very profitable (for a kid at least). I hope to continue making pens after college.

 

[Seth Roland]

Seth, welcome and it looks like you're off to a great start with your pen turning. I'm a bit confused about the photo of "Thuya boxes from Morocco". Do you import those or do you make them?

Thank you. Yes, the thuya boxes were imported from Morocco. I believe those are the only products that we don't have a hand in making.