Pedrotheswift

Hello, I’m Pedrotheswift. ( Peter) .

For your information regarding my Pedrotheswift Woodcraft shop. I’m a retired boilermaker/welder/truck builder. When I retired, I took up the hobby of woodturning by joining a men’s shed. I built a lathe from parts and added a more powerful, modern motor, some innovative electronics and rewiring work. The machine now runs a 3.5 hp motor, forward and reverse capabilities plus variable speed control. I also built a very useful table saw and a router table which I intend to use for making timber toys and game boards.

The purpose of my workshop is to reuse/repurpose, used timber and other materials and give them a second life. I collect branches and trunks of local trees from gardeners, second hand furniture, offcuts from builders and some new timber bought from timber merchants. I also use offcuts of from acrylic bench tops to make acrylic pens, key rings, bottle openers, vases, platters and lamp shades.

My pens are based on commercial pen kits which I buy from craft supply dealers in Australia and overseas. I use both “Cross” style pen refills and hardware, and “Parker” refills.

My wooden pens sometimes have natural wax coatings but more often, they have a very tough, long-lasting acrylic coating which will outlast any conventional treatment.

Like most other craft sellers, I’ve tried selling my products at flea markets and some online sales platforms but I have found it difficult to compete with sellers who deal in factory made products and cheap knock offs.

I make several types of pens which I will describe in detail as I advertise them in the shop. Generally, they come with Chrome, Gold, Black Chrome or Bronze colour fittings. Each pen comes with a velvet, draw-string pouch.

There are many hundreds of timber species and multiple colours of each of them, making it very difficult to identify them. At the time I make any wooden artefact, I seriously try to identify the timber species but I’ve been known to be wrong , so I welcome any information anyone can give me to correct my mistakes .