Our Story
Welcome to JC Wood Pens. While the name says "wood pens" that does not begin to cover the scope and variety of our hand made pens and turned items. We usually have about 80 species of wood and hundreds of colors of acrylic materials in stock. We also use some exotic materials like deer antler, alligator jaw bone, whale bone, etc.
JC Wood Pens was started as a “hobby based business” from my experience in various types of woodworking. My Grandfather taught me how to drive nails when I was a child. I have been interested in carpentry and woodwork for most of my life. I was introduced to the wood lathe (birthday present) and pen making just a few years ago. My work on the lathe is for the most part self taught. The first few pens quickly grew into a great enjoyment of creating handcrafted writing instruments. The first pens were all gifts to relatives, friends, and associates. Those ‘give a ways’ turned into requests for pens for others and thus JC Wood Pens was created. Since we started selling pens in late 2008, we have made over 1,500 pens and have customers in many US States, and several foreign countries. I certainly enjoy the looks on our customers' faces when they see their custom order pen for the first time. You can learn more about custom, or keepsake pens of sentimental value in our Commission and Wedding Pens area. All of the writing instruments and turnings are crafted in our small shop. The video on the right will provide you with a brief inside tour. (This is pretty much just unedited video.) All are handmade by my wife and myself from start to finish. We take pride in the craftsmanship of our work and the quality of each produced item. Please look around. If you see a pen you like; but, would like a different material, please contact us. We can provide you with a price and delivery time. There are "Galleries" on the Home page with examples of some or our prior work. Some of them can be recreated if you have an interest. We have made a few 'heirlooms" for customers from several items including: barn siding, a piano bench (salvaged from Katrina), Teak boat railings, broken gun stocks, recycled gym flooring, a fence post, 110 year old Pine framing from a warehouse, broken carved whale bone, and a few other things. Have something unique for us you want made into a pen? Thank you for visiting our site and let us know how we can help you with your desire for a fine handcrafted writing instrument. Betty & John Carlisle |
The shop before the addition.
This was our shop before we did a small addition. It originally started as a shop and green house. Plants and lawn equipment were stored on one end and the tools on the other.
Shop addition almost competed.
At this stage the work was almost complete on the outside. Still work to do on the inside, including building new work benches and dust collection system.
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