Penn State Industries has established itself as a foundational resource within the woodworking community, particularly for those specializing in the intricate art of woodturning. The organization has spent decades refining a product selection that addresses the specific mechanical and aesthetic requirements of both hobbyists and professional artisans. By focusing on niche categories such as pen making and workshop air quality, the catalog provides a centralized source for high-precision components that are often difficult to source through general hardware retailers. The selection reflects a deep understanding of the woodturning process, offering everything from the initial raw materials to the sophisticated machinery required for final assembly. This commitment to specialized inventory ensures that woodworkers have access to consistent quality in components like bushings, mandrels, and plating finishes, which are essential for producing professional-grade items that can withstand the test of time and use.
The technical breadth of the Penn State Industries catalog extends beyond simple tool distribution, encompassing a comprehensive ecosystem designed for workshop efficiency and creative expression. High-performance machinery, such as the Turncrafter Commander series of lathes, serves as the centerpiece for many small-scale workshops, providing the torque and stability necessary for detailed spindle work. Furthermore, the catalog emphasizes the importance of workshop safety and environment through its advanced dust collection solutions, which utilize cyclonic technology to maintain air purity in enclosed spaces. By integrating educational resources with specialized hardware, the catalog acts as a technical guide for practitioners looking to expand their skill sets into new mediums like acrylics, hybrid blanks, and stabilized woods. This professional-grade approach to inventory management and product development allows woodworkers to execute complex projects with a high degree of predictability and success, reinforcing the catalog’s status as a primary industry reference.
Comprehensive Woodturning Lathes and Machinery
The machinery section of the catalog is anchored by the Turncrafter Commander series, a line of lathes specifically engineered for precision turning. These machines are designed with cast iron beds to minimize vibration, which is a critical factor when working on small, high-detail projects like pens or decorative finials. The Turncrafter Commander 10-inch and 12-inch models often feature variable speed controls, allowing the user to adjust the rotations per minute to suit the hardness of the wood or the specific stage of the turning process. Digital readouts on many of these models provide exact speed measurements, ensuring that the turner can replicate successful results across multiple workpieces.
Technical Specifications of the Turncrafter Series
The engineering specifications of these lathes demonstrate a focus on durability and user control. For instance, the 12-inch Turncrafter Commander often utilizes a 1-horsepower motor, providing sufficient torque to handle larger bowl blanks while remaining sensitive enough for delicate spindle work. The inclusion of a 24-position indexing head on higher-end models allows for precise fluting and veining, expanding the creative possibilities beyond simple cylindrical turning. Tailstock and headstock tapers are standard Morse Taper #2, ensuring compatibility with a wide array of aftermarket accessories like live centers, drill chucks, and drive centers.
Extensive Selection of Pen Turning Kits
Penn State Industries is perhaps most recognized for its massive selection of pen kits, which cater to a variety of styles ranging from traditional to highly specialized themes. The catalog features kits like the Bolt Action Pen, which has become a staple for craft fair vendors and gift makers due to its unique mechanical operation and rugged aesthetic. Each kit is detailed with specific requirements for drill bit sizes and bushing sets, which are essential for achieving a seamless transition between the turned wood barrel and the metal hardware components. The plating options provided—including 24kt gold, rhodium, gunmetal, and chrome—are selected for their wear resistance and visual appeal.
Specialized and Themed Pen Hardware
Beyond the standard Slimline and European styles, the catalog includes themed kits that allow turners to target specific markets. The Nautical, Steampunk, and Majestic series offer complex designs that incorporate intricate cast details on the clips and caps. These kits often require more advanced assembly techniques and specific mandrel setups, all of which are documented within the catalog descriptions. The use of high-quality internal mechanisms, such as Schmidt converters or premium rollerball refills, ensures that the finished products function as reliable writing instruments rather than mere novelties.
Advanced Dust Collection Systems
Workshop safety is a prominent theme within the Penn State Industries inventory, specifically regarding the management of airborne particulates. The Tempest line of cyclone dust collectors represents a significant investment in workshop health. Unlike standard bag collectors, these cyclonic systems use centrifugal force to separate large chips from fine dust before the air passes through a pleated filter. This prevents the filter from clogging prematurely and maintains a consistent cubic feet per minute (CFM) rating throughout the operation. The catalog provides detailed airflow data, helping woodworkers choose a system that matches the size of their shop and the number of machines in use.
Air Filtration and Ambient Cleaners
In addition to point-of-source collection, the catalog offers ambient air cleaners designed to remove the finest particles that escape traditional collectors. These units often feature multi-stage filtration, with outer filters catching larger particles and inner bags capturing dust as small as one micron. Remote-controlled operation and programmable timers allow these units to continue cleaning the air after the woodworker has left the shop, ensuring a clean environment for finishing tasks. The focus on air quality highlights the catalog’s role in promoting long-term health and safety for the serious woodworker.
Precision Tooling and Barracuda Chuck Systems
Workholding is a critical aspect of lathe work, and the Barracuda series of key-operated chucks is a highlight of the catalog. These chuck systems are designed for versatility, featuring interchangeable jaws that can hold everything from small pen blanks to large bowls. The self-centering four-jaw design provides a secure grip on both square and round stock, which is vital for safety during high-speed rotation. The catalog details various accessory jaws, such as cole jaws for finishing the bottoms of bowls and jumbo jaws for oversized projects, demonstrating a modular approach to tool ownership.
High-Speed Steel Turning Tools
The selection of turning tools emphasizes the use of High-Speed Steel (HSS), which retains its hardness even when subjected to the heat generated by continuous friction. The catalog features a range of profiles including roughing gouges, spindle gouges, bowl gouges, and parting tools. Many of these tools are available with ergonomic handles designed to reduce hand fatigue during long turning sessions. For those who prefer modern solutions, carbide-tipped tools are also featured, offering the advantage of replaceable cutters that eliminate the need for traditional sharpening equipment. These technical details help the woodworker select the right tool for their specific level of experience and sharpening capability.
Finishing and Assembly Supplies
The final stages of any woodworking project require specialized supplies to achieve a professional finish. Penn State Industries offers a variety of CA (cyanoacrylate) glues in different viscosities, which are commonly used both as an adhesive for pen tubes and as a high-gloss finish for turned items. The catalog also features friction polishes, such as Shellawax, which are designed to be applied while the workpiece is spinning on the lathe, utilizing heat to cure the finish instantly. This section of the catalog is essential for woodworkers who need reliable chemical products that are compatible with both natural wood and synthetic materials like acrylics.
Assembly Presses and Shop Accessories
To ensure the precision of the final product, the catalog includes specialized assembly tools like pen presses. These tools provide controlled, linear pressure to seat hardware components into turned barrels without damaging the finish or the internal mechanisms. Other shop accessories, such as specialized drill bits with parabolic flutes, are designed to clear chips efficiently when drilling deep holes in dense hardwoods. These small but technical additions to the catalog illustrate a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced during the assembly process.
Educational Resources and Skill Development
The Penn State Industries catalog serves as more than just a product list; it is a repository of technical knowledge. The inclusion of instructional DVDs, books, and project-specific guides provides woodworkers with the information needed to master new techniques. Topics range from basic lathe safety and tool sharpening to advanced segmenting and hollow form turning. By providing these resources alongside the necessary hardware, the catalog supports a holistic approach to the craft, encouraging users to progress from simple projects to complex, professional-level artistry.
Project Inspiration and Material Selection
A significant portion of the catalog is dedicated to materials, including a vast array of wood blanks and acrylic resins. Exotic woods like Cocobolo, Bethlehem Olivewood, and African Blackwood are sourced for their unique grain patterns and density. For those seeking modern aesthetics, the catalog offers acrylic and hybrid blanks that combine wood and colorful resins. Detailed descriptions of the working characteristics of these materials—such as their tendency to chip or their response to specific finishes—help woodworkers avoid common pitfalls and achieve better results in their creative endeavors.
Conclusion and Technical Summary
Penn State Industries remains a vital partner for the woodworking community by providing a highly specialized inventory that balances machinery, hardware, and technical education. The catalog is meticulously organized to serve the needs of precision turners, offering a path from the initial selection of raw materials to the final application of protective finishes. By focusing on durability, accuracy, and workshop safety, the organization ensures that woodworkers have the tools necessary to produce work of the highest caliber. Whether one is setting up a new workshop with a Turncrafter Commander lathe or seeking the latest in cyclonic dust collection technology, the technical specifications and broad product range found in this catalog provide a reliable foundation for success. For those ready to enhance their workshop capabilities and explore the full potential of woodturning, the extensive resources available through the company are indispensable. Discover the complete range of professional tools and supplies at Penn State Industries.