Woodturnings by Bob Kahane

For Annandale resident Bob Kahane, woodturning is a Zen experience. Kahane started turning more than 20 years ago. His craft soon became a relaxing hobby to help him unwind after a long day at work. “Woodturning becomes very rhythmic,” Kahane said. “You don’t have to worry about the wood because you get into the rhythm of what you’re doing.” 

Kahane’s first project was a cocobolo mallet. He then turned bowls and “things that are round and brown” for a few years. Five years ago, he honed his craft and switched his focus to pens and pencils. “I realized that I could share them as gifts easily and that they had some financial potential,” he said. “I do a combination of selling them and giving them away. All four of my grandsons have made their own pen and they’re very proud of them.”

The woodturner creates both resin and wood products. He always keeps his movements very light so that he doesn’t gouge the wood. Kahane said woodturning is similar to sculpting with clay. “You don’t use a ruler in woodturning,” he said. “You get as close to what it should be and then you just work with it.”

Customized pieces are his true passion. “When I give them as gifts, people appreciate the workmanship and uniqueness,” he said. “No two pens are equal. You can make pens out of an old crib or from pieces of wood from your grandfather’s barn. The end result can be a very personalized item."

Kahane recalled the story of a friend of friend in California who requested a pen for her father’s birthday. She worked with Kahane to coordinate the design and material of the pen. She and her father had not had a great relationship prior to this and when she finally gave him the pen, he was completely enamored with it. He wrote her a note saying that whenever he picked up the pen to use it he thought about how much she loved him and how much that meant to him.

“She sent me a copy of the note,” he said. “It’s a nice experience to know that people really appreciate your product and also to know that people can form better relationships with their gifts because they are personalized.”

Customer Bill Washington purchased an Art Noveau Sceptre fountain pen from Kahane. “It is a superb instrument and very attractive,” Washington said. “I wanted it to be somewhat understated, however most everyone notices it when I write and some will pick it up for a closer look. The quality is as great as it is attractive. It is my every-day, all-occasions writing instrument, inside and outside the office.”

Washington recently ordered a second pen in cocobolo wood. “Bob is very passionate about his work and his products,” he said. “It was not easy to select one pen or one design without looking at his extensive display and wanting to buy more!”

Kahane is an active member of the Capital Area Woodturners, the American Association of Woodworkers and the International Association of Pen Turners. Some of his works are on permanent display and are available for purchase at a number of cigar and specialty gift stores throughout the Washington metropolitan area. “People know I make them and will buy them from me,” he said. “I have a lot of repeat customers.”

He is also a juried artisan at Artisans United’s craft gallery in Annandale. “It’s a good organization,” he said. “It gives back to the community with the outreach program and offers the community the opportunity to buy something unique from local artisans.”

Kahane is continually taking courses and learning different methods and approaches. As he approaches retirement from Lockheed Martin, he wouldn’t mind woodturning full-time. “It’s something to do instead of just sitting and watching television,” he said. “It might also be an opportunity to continue making money. I really enjoy doing it.”