Monthly Archives: April 2015

Come See Barry at the Mid-Atlantic Pen Gathering

MAPG-150Come see all the latest in Pen Making at the Mid-Atlantic Pen Gathering… Door Prizes – Education and more…
This year the Mid-Atlantic Pen Gathering is being held at the Woodcraft store in Glen Allen, VA this Friday and Saturday May 1 & 2, 2015.
This year’s presenters are:
Kurt Hertzog – Making your pens Unique and making a stick pen.
Barry Gross – On Tube Clear Casting
Charlie Wortman – Turning Between Centers
Roy Robaldo – How to upgrade a nib
Bill Walter & Bruce Robbins – The incredible threading machine
The vendor room will include: Arizona Silhouette, Brooks Blanks, The Classic Nib and PTownSubbie.com and more….

“It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over” – A Lesson in Patience

Yogi Berra said it best…“It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over”
Empty booth at

Empty booth at last weekend’s show

This past weekend I attended the American Art Marketing – Wadsworth Museum Show in Connecticut.  This was the first year for this craft show, so I expected the attendance to be low, and it was very light in attendance. Most of the exhibitors around me had light sales, and some of the exhibitors did not even make their booth fee and expenses! Luckily, I had made my booth fee and expenses, with a slight profit.

The show was over at 5 PM on Sunday, and so at 4 PM, since traffic was light, I started to put some of my pens away. Just as I was starting to pack up, 3 different customers came into the booth. Those three customers purchased nine of my higher priced pens and took my so-so weekend to a **WOW** weekend, just like that!
So, the moral of the story is never give up until the final second of a show – you never know who will show up and make your day!
BTW, we are taking orders for the lever action pens, (which did very well at the show – sold all of them that I had (6). Please call us, and we will take your name and order and when they come in we will ship them to you!
Barry’s Tip:
When I sell a higher priced pen at a show, I make sure that it has fresh ink in the pen. This has come to light because a customer called, and complained that his pens were running out of ink fast.  When we researched this we found that they had purchased the pen kits over two years ago and they were putting the old ink into the pens and selling them.  If I have a pen that has not sold in a while, I always put a fresh refill into the pen.  In a pinch, if I am out of town at a show, I will go to Office Max, Staples or any other stationary store and get some fresh refills to put into my pens.  This is the least expense part of the pen but if it does not write properly it will cost you  a sale!
Good selling – Barry

Lever Action Bullet Ballpoint Click Pen Kits are back in stock – get yours now!

Lever action Bullet Click Pen

Lever action Bullet Click Pen. Click photo above to see it in action!

The Lever Action Bullet Ballpoint Pen Kits are back in stock!  

The new Lever Action Bullet Ballpoint Click Pen Kits are back in stock, but not for long by the looks of the wait list from our website.
This is the hottest selling pen kit on the market today!  We sold out of our last shipment in only a couple of days.

We have over 150 in stock, but that will not last long – so if you want them, act NOW! Once we run out, our next shipment will not be until the end of May.

Our waiting list was automatically notified when we put them back in stock, and we’re getting ready to send out an email blast to ALL our customers. Since you’re getting this from the blog, or social media, you are the first to know!

Barry at Bucks Woodturners Meeting on Monday, April 20, 2015

Stabilization Chamber & Cactus Juice

Stabilization Chamber & Cactus Juice

This coming Monday, April 20, 2015  Barry will be at the Bucks Woodturners meeting to explain his wood stabilization chamber – the one that uses Cactus Juice!

Cactus “juice” is a professional grade heat cured resin for stabilizing and hardening wood and other porous material. It is especially effective on beautiful, punky, or spalted woods that would otherwise be too soft to work with.

Copper Bangle Bracelet with turquoise

Copper Bangle Bracelet with turquoise

Barry’s also going to demonstrate making a bangle bracelet with a seamless metal core.

Bucks Woodturners meetings begin at 7:30 PM in the woodworking studio in the Hicks Art Center building of the Bucks County Community College, Swamp Road, Newtown, PA.

Click here for directions to the college:

Click here for a Map of the campus:

If you live near the Philadelphia suburb of Bucks County, here’s more info about this woodturning group: http://www.bucksturners.com/

Pen Making Demonstration at DelVal Woodturners in NJ

Barry demonstrating at DelVal Woodturners Group

Barry demonstrating at DelVal Woodturners Group

I want to thank everyone who attended the Pen Making Demonstration at Del Val Woodturners meeting the other night in Moorestown, NJ.

The meeting was very well attended. There were many questions from the audience ranging from tool selection to finishing techniques.

There was even an unanticipated “bonus” demonstration. I had to repair the Spalted maple pen blank that I was turning because a piece “blew” off! (I know, you didn’t think this happened to professionals) Once it was repaired, no one could tell where the piece blew out. It was a good lesson on repairing a blow out. Learning little tips like this is a great way to save frustration, time & money.

Thank you for hosting me, I had a great time!

For more information on Del Val Woodturners see www.delvalturners.com

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A nice turnout at the DelVal Woodturners Club

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Thank you to DelVal Woodturners, I had a good time!

Lever Action Bullet Ballpoint Pen Kits are here!!

Lever action Bullet Click Pen

Lever action Bullet Click Pen. Click photo above to see it in action!

The Lever Action Bullet Ballpoint Pen Kits have arrived!  

Our loyal blog followers will be the first to get these great pen kits at the special, limited time, introductory price of $12.80!(special price offer has expired) The pen is adorned with antique brass that is etched with a deer on one side, and the entry hole for the shell on the other side. There is real rifle lever action that makes this fun to use. This should prove to be a very popular addition to your portfolio of pens for selling, gift giving or just using for yourself.

 

Watch out bolt action, the LEVER has arrived!

 

I just made two of the lever action pens. They are fun, and easy to make. It is a single barrel pen, and the click sound is really good!