David Thornton likes to pay attention to detail.
His job has him looking over 3D drawings, plans and specifications every day to make sure parts fit together. But about 10 years ago Thornton was seeking a daily break from looking at a computer screen and wanting to use his hands.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune The completed walnut pen is pictured on walnut blanks similar to what David Thornton started with in creating the pen in his Tallassee shop.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Wood chips come off a piece of walnut as David Thornton turns a pen in his shop recently. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Wood chips come off a piece of walnut as David Thornton turns a pen in his shop recently. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Hidden behind protective gear David Thornton turns a pen in his shop recently. Thornton uses filters and shields to protect his face and lungs. He also has a vacuum system to help remove dust and particles from his work area.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton keeps an assortment of wood blanks on hand for creating writing pens. Some to the wood is locally sourced while other comes from around the U.S. and world. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton jokes this is the world’s most expensive shop pen. It is made from rattlesnake skin in resin. The pen is not salable because the barrel cracked as Thornton was pressing in the components. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton uses several different grits of sandpaper to smooth the wood after removing the bulk of the wood with a lathe tool. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton has accumulated several tools in the last decade to help make pens. The drill bits are speciality sizes dependent on the size of components selected by Thornton and work with his wood lathe.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton applies sand-and-sealer to a walnut barrel for a pen. The finish allows the natural colors and grain of the wood to be highlighted. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton presses components of a pen into the walnut barrel he just turned and finished. Pens like it will be available at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads next month.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton presses components of a pen into the walnut barrel he just turned and finished. Pens like it will be available at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads next month.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton installs the Parker pen refill into a walnut pen he just turned in his Tallassee shop. Pens like it will be available at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads next month.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune The completed walnut pen is pictured on walnut blanks similar to what David Thornton started with in creating the pen in his Tallassee shop.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Wood chips come off a piece of walnut as David Thornton turns a pen in his shop recently. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Wood chips come off a piece of walnut as David Thornton turns a pen in his shop recently. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune Hidden behind protective gear David Thornton turns a pen in his shop recently. Thornton uses filters and shields to protect his face and lungs. He also has a vacuum system to help remove dust and particles from his work area.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton keeps an assortment of wood blanks on hand for creating writing pens. Some to the wood is locally sourced while other comes from around the U.S. and world. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton jokes this is the world’s most expensive shop pen. It is made from rattlesnake skin in resin. The pen is not salable because the barrel cracked as Thornton was pressing in the components. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton uses several different grits of sandpaper to smooth the wood after removing the bulk of the wood with a lathe tool. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton has accumulated several tools in the last decade to help make pens. The drill bits are speciality sizes dependent on the size of components selected by Thornton and work with his wood lathe.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton applies sand-and-sealer to a walnut barrel for a pen. The finish allows the natural colors and grain of the wood to be highlighted. Thornton has been turning pens for about 10 years and has created about 1,000 of them.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton presses components of a pen into the walnut barrel he just turned and finished. Pens like it will be available at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads next month.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton presses components of a pen into the walnut barrel he just turned and finished. Pens like it will be available at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads next month.
PHOTOS: Turning pens in Tallassee
Cliff Williams / The Tribune David Thornton installs the Parker pen refill into a walnut pen he just turned in his Tallassee shop. Pens like it will be available at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads next month.
