Creator guides · 2026-07-18 · Patreon guide
Patreon for pen turning creators: tiers, wood blank species and stabilization, CA finish coat count, lathe speed selection, bushing sizing and kit assembly, iOS rates, and the Apple Tax in 2026
Pen turning Patreons retain patrons because the YouTube build video shows a glowing finished pen but never delivers the documentation layer: which wood species was used and what its Janka hardness rating is, how many coats of CA finish were applied and at what viscosity, what lathe speed was selected for that blank diameter, and which bushing set fits that specific kit manufacturer's tube dimensions. The patron who wants to replicate a finish or troubleshoot a cracked blank needs the actual parameter layer, not just the reveal.
Three types of pen turning creators on Patreon
Wood pen turners documenting blank species and finish protocols
Wood pen turners deliver the materials documentation that separates a repeatable process from a lucky result: blank species documentation at the Janka hardness and grain orientation level (Janka hardness in lbf: Bocote 2200, Cocobolo 1136, Amboyna Burl ~1800, Ebony 3220, Purple Heart 1680, Spalted Maple 1450; end-grain vs long-grain orientation relative to tube axis — end-grain blanks show medullary rays in species like maple and oak; long-grain blanks show cathedral grain figure; documentation includes which end was drilled first and why); stabilization records for punky or figured blanks (Cactus Juice or equivalent resin vacuum impregnation: vacuum to −28 inHg for 30 minutes to evacuate air from wood cell structure, then fill vacuum chamber with resin under atmosphere to force resin into cells; cure at 200°F for 45–60 minutes; document lot number, pre-treatment blank weight, post-cure blank weight, and calculated resin uptake percentage by weight — spalted maple typically absorbs 15–35% of its weight in resin depending on decay depth); CA finish application protocol (thin CA for first 2–3 coats sealing grain and providing penetrating base; medium CA for structural coats 4–8; thick CA for build coats if needed; accelerator spray or pump to set each coat before next application; lathe speed 800–1200 RPM during finish application for 3/4–1 inch diameter blanks; sanding progression: Abranet 120→220→320→400 for leveling, then Micro-Mesh 1500→2400→3200→4000→6000→8000→12000 for final gloss; total coat count 8–15 for a durable result). Tier structure: Build Log ($8–12/month, per-pen species + finish notes + photos), Technical Reference ($22–35/month, CA coat count comparisons, stabilization uptake records, lathe speed rationale).
Acrylic and resin blank turners sharing material behavior documentation
Acrylic and resin blank turners deliver the critical material-behavior data that distinguishes a clean finish from a heat-cracked, cloudy, or smeared result: lathe speed calculation by blank diameter (optimal surface feet per minute for acrylic: 200–400 SFM during roughing, 400–800 SFM during finishing; surface feet per minute = RPM × blank diameter in inches × π / 12; for a 1-inch diameter acrylic blank, 1500 RPM = 393 SFM; too high = friction heat softens acrylic producing gummy cuts and smear; too low = excessive tool pressure and chatter); cutting tool selection for acrylic (carbide insert tools vs HSS: insert tools work well with acrylic at higher speeds; negative rake angle carbide prevents the tool from digging into the plastic; positive rake HSS skews can produce very clean cuts at low speeds; sharp edge critical — a dull tool produces heat by friction, melting acrylic); wet sanding protocol for acrylic blanks (dry sanding generates heat and loads abrasive with acrylic; wet sanding with water flushing keeps temperature below the glass transition temperature Tg ~100–105°C for PMMA; start at 400 or 600 grit wet depending on tool finish; progress through 800–1200–2000–3000–5000 wet, then Micro-Mesh 1500–12000 dry; final buff with Novus Plastic Polish #1 or equivalent plastic polishing compound). iOS rates: YouTube acrylic pen turning 70–80% iOS; Instagram 78–88% iOS.
Pen kit educators covering drill sizing and tube adhesive selection
Pen kit educators deliver the fit-and-function layer: drill bit selection by tube OD (letter drill sizes rather than fractional for precision: Slimline 7mm tube OD 7.0mm = letter drill G at 7.94mm for moderate slip fit vs H at 8.33mm for loose fit; use 7mm metric drill for tight tube fit; Cigar kit lower tube 12.7mm = 1/2” drill; Junior Gentleman 10mm tube = letter drill R at 10.3mm; document which drill and which kit as dimensional variation exists between manufacturers); tube adhesive selection (5-minute epoxy for most applications: low viscosity fills gap between tube OD and drilled hole; strong enough to resist tube rotation during turning; removable with heat gun if needed for correction; CA adhesive for fast repair or when gap is very small 0.1–0.2mm; polyurethane adhesive expands during cure and can push tube out of position on porous blanks); bushing set documentation by kit (bushing ODs must be measured with digital calipers; after CA finish build-up, the blank diameter slightly exceeds bushing OD and final sanding reduces it to match; document measured bushing OD for each kit type used, as nominal values vary 0.05–0.15mm from published specs between manufacturers). iOS rates: YouTube pen kit tutorials 65–75% iOS.
Apple Tax impact on pen turning creators
Pen turning creator iOS rates are high because finished pen photography and turning reveals perform well on Instagram and TikTok: YouTube pen turning 65–75% iOS; Instagram finished pen and wood figure photography 75–86% iOS; TikTok pen turning 78–88% iOS. At $200/month with 70% iOS: Apple’s 30% fee starting November 1, 2026 costs $42/month ($504/year). At $300/month with 76% iOS: $68.40/month ($820.80/year). Enable web-only billing in Patreon Creator Settings before October 31, 2026.