Broken Drumsticks Make Great Pens!

I'm a drummer and a woodworker, so whenever I can combine these two loves of mine, I'm happy!  After playing hundreds of gigs with my local cover band, I have accumulated quite a collection of broken drumsticks.  Most drummers would just throw them in the trash, but I make pens out of them.

I just learned that my drumstick pens are featured in WOOD Magazine on page 14 of the October 2014 issue.  I haven't seen it yet, so I need to go buy a copy or three!  Thanks to Steve Ramsey for mentioning me and my pens in the article.  I keep a few of these pens for sale on my Etsy Store if you would like to see what I have on hand.  Let's look at some examples...

I like to include the logos on the pen if it is still somewhat intact.  This is popular with drummers, especially if it's the same brand they use.

This one is 9" long to make it look more like a drumstick.  I used my lathe to shape the grip end of the pen into the shape of a drumstick tip.  Since this pen is so long, it's more of a novelty desk display item rather than something you would carry in your pocket.

This pen comes from a drumstick that had split along the grain at the grip, so I was able to use the drumstick tip on the back end of the pen.  There were some chips and dents on the surface from hitting cymbals, but I was able to sand these away on my lathe.

Sometimes a stick will be broken such that the logo or tip cannot be used.  In this case, I use my lathe to shape the grip like a drumstick tip.  Any pen turner could make one of these with a regular pen blank, but I like to use up my drumsticks.

Thanks for checking out my drumstick pens.  Please visit my my Etsy Store to see if there is one you like.  The few dollars I make from each pen go toward more pen supplies and materials.  I try to keep the prices low because I know what it's like to be a starving musician.  Rock on my friend!

Making Drum Sticks on a Lathe!

I've been playing drums since 1973 and I've broken lots of drum sticks.  I'm new to the lathe and have turned many pens, so it was only natural to attempt to make my own drum sticks.

I used solid cherry because it is somewhat durable, yet turns nicely on the lathe.  I made my first one off-camera just to see how it would turn out.  It was successful, so I recorded the process when turning the second one.

The sticks are 16" long and about 1/2" thick.  The sticks were easy to turn; however, the middle of the stick did flex from the pressure of the cutting tool.  Next time, I might try using a steady rest to apply some opposing force to the tool.

It was very rewarding to play drums with my own handmade sticks, so I will be making more in the future.

Drumstick Key Chains!

I discovered another use for my broken drumsticks...Drumstick Key Chains!  The tips of drumsticks take the most abuse.  The cymbal edges chew away at the tip until it eventually breaks, but the rest of the stick is usually a nice solid rod of Hickory.  

I don't have the heart to cut the tips off a new pair of drumsticks just to make key chains, so I turn my own tips between centers.  Hickory turns really nicely on the lathe and looks great with a CA finish.  Any drummer would love one of these.  Visit my Etsy Store to check them out!

Turning Pens from Drumsticks Using a Lathe

When I'm not woodworking, I love to play drums in my cover band.  I go through a lot of drumsticks, and since I'm a woodworker too, I am always looking for new uses for them.  In case you don't know, most drumsticks are made from hard maple or hickory, which is good for woodworking projects.  I've used drumsticks for dowels, axel rods, and CD/DVD spindles before, and now I've found yet another good way to upcycle them...Pens!

I recently delved into the world of pen turning and here are some pictures of some pens I've made from old drumsticks.  Drumsticks come in many different sizes and the challenge here is drilling a hole down the center without the bit exiting the side or cracking the wood.  I use size 5A drumsticks and the standard 7mm drill bit that is used for slimline pens fits within the drumstick quite nicely.

I usually like to put a clear finish on the pens to maintain the natural beauty of the wood and keep it looking somewhat like it came from a drumstick.  I decided to experiment with using green food coloring and really like the results of the green pen.

If you do woodworking, keep an eye out for alternate sources for wood and you might be surprised at what you can find...for FREE!