The last couple months I have been turning pens. Boy o boy talk about
instant gratification! I thought it was quick with bowls but turns
out not to be the case.
Anyways, I bought some pen blanks, the first time I ever purchased
wood. I'd been using free wood that alerted me to its existence by the
sound of the siren [read: someone using a chainsaw in the vicinity].
So I am turning this pen blank down and stop ever so often to look.
My oh my what beautiful designs and swirly colours! I was still a
good sixteenth or so away for the minimum size; that being on the ends
where the two halves of the pen meet.
Now I can't recall reading here anything about stopping before your
finished cause the patterns are sl lovely. This is true for both
bowls and pens and perhaps other items. Not really a question here
but more of an observation.

I do have a question though. I have a Jet 1236 and recently see that
my speed control is stuck due to what I think is the upper (or
spindle) pulley being stuck. It will work fine in the two lower
positions but beyond that I have to take off the cover and --gently--
tap the upper pulley while working the handle back and forth. Has
anyone successfully addressed this issue without too much difficulty.
I like this lathe and have been using it now for 4 or 5 years.