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Pens and the Flint

Gross has wood-turned over 700 pens in two years

Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross Turning square blanks into round pen halves.

Times Observer photo  by Stacey Gross The wormy chestnut that started it all. Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross A finished pen. Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross Drilling space for the brass center in a blank. Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross A pen after being turned. Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross A blank at the start of the process. Times Observer photo by Stacey Gross Trimming the ends off a blank.

In the 1950’s, Bill Gross’ grandfather’s chestnut tree got cut down.

The American Chestnut suffered serious blight in the early 20th century, leaving most mature trees full of holes and discoloration. Most, in fact, were harvested for lumber and the lumber itself has become rather valuable.

Gross, who worked 35 years altogether in different manufacturing and retail jobs around Warren, started getting cabin fever after he retired. Around two years ago, he and his wife, Celia, were looking through an antique store and came across a stack of wood-turning magazines. Bill bought them, and started learning about what would become his new passion.

He pulled out the wormy chestnut that he’d saved from his grandfather’s farm and made some pen blanks from it. Then, he said, he started making pens.

After two years of practice, Bill has amassed an impressive collection of wood from around Pennsylvania, but also from around the world. From ebony to Kola to Pennsylvania oak and apple, Bill said he’s turned over 700 pens in the past two years. He keeps a log of each one he does, in case someone wants a pen similar to one he’s already made, or if nothing else, he said, just to keep track of what he’s done.

Because part of the wood-turning hobby he’s started is about setting goals.

Each year, Bill said, he tries to set new goals for himself so that the hobby that’s kept him from getting too bored in retirement doesn’t get too boring itself. What started out as just pens, he said, has turned into a collection of wood-handled kitchen tools, sewing accessories like seam rippers, and wine stoppers. He also pours his own acrylics, making pens with acrylic instead of wood, as well as antlers, and even baseball bats and bowling pins.

And to keep him busy between bartering for wood scraps or taking his projects to sell at shows, he also makes Freedom Pens. Sponsored by the Online Woodworking Community sawmillcreek.org, the project gathers pens turned by amateur woodworkers throughout the country, donating time, talent, supplies, and funds to make pens for military men and women serving overseas. The woodworkers who participate “create custom pens as a symbol of their support for our military men and women.”

Bill said that he sends hundreds of pens at a time to Louisiana, where they are eventually sent on to combat zones worldwide.

“When one of our handmade writing instruments is used to write a letter home (from the service), it is a symbol of our support and physical evidence that the people of America care deeply about their safety and are praying for their safe return home,” the Freedom Pens website says.

It takes Bill around an hour to turn one pen, and the metal pieces, transmissions, and ink inserts come from kits that also include bushings that dictate the shape of each pen. Bill said he likes to make basic, slimline pens for most of his projects, although he can customize them with different shapes and embellishments during the process.

He and his wife do travel, occasionally, when Bill isn’t turning pens. He’s working on a few pens to take on an upcoming trip to Belize to hand out to people there.

Bill can be reached at (814) 563-8896 or by writing to him at billyhg@verizon.net.

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