Grandson Peyton and His First Pen

Yesterday was my grandsons third birthday. Today he stopped to visit and wanted to stay a while. He likes to pound and dent my wood and beat my mallet on the work bench. Trying to save my wood and work bench I asked it he wanted make his mom something. He quickly seemed interested. He likes books and the other night he appeared excited about some of the photos in a pen turning book I have so I decided to let him assist with a pen. He helped pick a scrap of walnut. He watched as I roughed it out on the bandsaw. He help me mark the blanks and again watched me cut and drill them out. He sanded the brass tubes and again watched as I glued them in and trimed the barrels. He seemed real interested in the lathe and helped hold the gouge as we roughed them out. Lost interest as I finished turning, sanding and finishing them. When it was time to put them together he was back and handed me the pen parts as I pressed them together. Was excited with the finished project as he gave it a try. The first photo is Peyton with his safety glasses showing grandma the pen and how it worked. The second is the finished project – a slimline pen made from walnut. I am sure Grandpa had more fun than he did but the the look in his eye when he took it home to mom was worth it all. Some of my fondest memories where of time spent with my Grandpa in his small humble shop off the back of his garage and I hope this may be one of his. Another great hour in the shop. To me thats what its all about.

-- Duane, Iowa