Turning Passion into Craft: The Woodturned Pen Workshop at HobbyLab

What happens when you combine an international cooperation project, a passion for raw craftsmanship, and a simple block of wood? You get a room full of flying wood shavings, smiling faces, and completely unique writing tools carrying their own personal stories.

This past March, the Czech Republic proudly hosted the second mid-term meeting of the international Fab-Maker project. To celebrate the true maker spirit and bridge the gap between technical innovation and traditional hands-on skills, we teamed up with the beautiful HobbyLab Rousínov makerspace to host a practical woodturning masterclass.

The interest from the community was overwhelming—the workshop quickly reached its absolute maximum capacity, welcoming 12 enthusiastic participants from the general public ready to explore the world of woodworking.

Guided by Experts, Crafted by Hand

The intensive, hands-on workshop was expertly led by two skilled female instructors from HobbyLab, who guided the participants through every single step of the technical process. The goal was to transform an ordinary, raw block of wood into a highly professional, custom-made wooden ballpoint pen or micro-pencil.

The makers dived headfirst into the tactile world of woodworking:

• Discovering Wood Structures: Participants began by selecting their own specific piece of wood, analyzing its grain, density, and natural patterns.
• Precision Preparation: At the workbench, blocks were measured, cut, and drilled with absolute concentration to prepare them for the lathe.
• The Art of Woodturning: Sitting at the lathe, participants carefully used chisels to shave down the wood, transforming rough edges into sleek, elegant, and ergonomic curves.
• Polishing & Assembly: After fine-sanding and applying specialized surface finishes to make the natural wood patterns pop, the internal mechanisms were pressed together to complete the functional tool.
  

The Maker Mindset: Mistakes are Friends

This workshop was the perfect showcase of what the global makerspace movement is truly about. Makerspaces aren't just high-tech labs; they are safe, supportive environments where curiosity thrives. It is a space where no one is afraid to try something new, where creative boundaries are pushed, and where every mistake is welcomed as a friend that teaches us how to move forward.

Get Involved with Fab-Maker!

The wooden pen workshop is just a small taste of what the European maker ecosystem is building together through the collaboration of Make more (CZ) and Verbund Offener Werkstätten (DE). We are actively working to make these creative environments accessible, structured, and sustainable for everyone across Europe.

Don't miss our grand finale! The Fab-Maker project will culminate in a major international conference and interactive, practical workshops taking place directly during the Maker Faire Prague 2027 festival on May 22–23.

Whether you are an experienced crafter, a curious tech enthusiast, or a community builder, we would love to meet you. Mark your calendars, follow our journey at fabmaker.eu, and come say hi!