here2
Need Help? 1-800-377-7297
Live Chat Sign In Free Catalog Product Instructions Interactive Catalog New Arrivals Pen Design Studio
0
Product Search
    0

    About Us

    Turn Raw Into Awe!
    Why we do what we do?

    At Penn State Industries, we believe in the power of making. In the hands of a woodturner, a block of raw material becomes something functional, beautiful—even meaningful.

    That act of transformation is what drives us. It's what connects us to every hobbyist, artist, and maker who chooses to turn raw into awe. We’re not here just to sell pen kits and turning tools.

    We’re here to empower your creativity.

    We exist to help you turn raw materials into something awesome—and feel awesome doing it.

    How a Business Became a Movement Penn State Industries was founded in 1936 by Benjamin and Bernard Levy in a small Philadelphia shop. What began as a wholesale stationery business slowly evolved—first into woodworking, then into a focused line of tools and kits for small project makers. In the 1980s, the second generation stepped in. Marvin Levy, a lifelong woodworker, and his brother Ed Levy, an engineer by training, brought hands-on craftsmanship and technical problem-solving to the business. With their combined experience, they helped transform PSI from a wholesale operation into a creative brand built around accessibility, innovation, and maker success. They also saw an opportunity: professional-grade tools were expensive and out of reach for many hobbyists. By sourcing globally and designing in-house, Marvin and Ed found a way to make high-quality woodworking products more accessible—starting with a scroll saw and dust collection equipment. That foundation eventually expanded into woodturning, which has become the heart of what we do today. From pen kits and mini lathes to turning tools, blanks, and accessories, Penn State Industries grew into a go-to source for small project woodturners around the world. But what began as a smart business decision grew into something more. We saw customers turning a block of raw wood into something beautiful. We saw beginners becoming creators. We saw people light up when they made something with their own two hands—and gave it as a gift, or sold it at a show. That transformation is what drives us. Today, Penn State Industries is still family-run. And while the company has grown, the goal remains simple:

    Penn State Industries started in 1936 in a small shop in Philadelphia. Brothers Benjamin and Bernard Levy originally launched it as a wholesale stationery business. In the 1960s, Marvin Levy joined his father and uncle, followed by his brother Ed in the 1970s. The company evolved—just like the projects we love to make—into something new.

    In the early 1980s, we introduced our first woodworking product: a scroll saw. From there, the business began to transform. By the late '80s, we started offering woodturning tools and kits. What began with one lathe and a few basic tools has grown into a catalog of over 2,700 products sold around the world.

    With Marvin’s woodworking roots and Ed’s background in engineering, the family continued to innovate. In 2007, the third generation joined the business. Ed’s son Kevin now leads marketing and new product development, while Todd—Marvin’s son-in-law—heads our wholesale division.

    We’re still proudly family-run and driven by the same hands-on passion for making. If you’ve ever felt the thrill of transforming raw wood into something beautiful and useful, you’re one of us.

     What We Believe In Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam condimentum ex et nunc interdum, eu porttitor ipsum facilisis. Proin pellentesque sapien a ultricies ultricies. Donec porta ante sed nulla consequat pharetra. Quisque malesuada facilisis turpis. Etiam volutpat, lectus nec rhoncus egestas, libero lectus egestas magna, sit amet eleifend nunc leo sit amet purus. Duis nec lectus maximus, posuere orci vel, dictum orci. Nullam id arcu nec neque placerat varius. Fusce aliquam magna et tellus blandit luctus. Our Materials & What makes them Special Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam condimentum ex et nunc interdum, eu porttitor ipsum facilisis. Proin pellentesque sapien a ultricies ultricies. Donec porta ante sed nulla consequat pharetra. Quisque malesuada facilisis turpis. Etiam volutpat, lectus nec rhoncus egestas, libero lectus egestas magna, sit amet eleifend nunc leo sit amet purus. Duis nec lectus maximus, posuere orci vel, dictum orci. Nullam id arcu nec neque placerat varius. Fusce aliquam magna et tellus blandit luctus. The Making Behind the Making Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam condimentum ex et nunc interdum, eu porttitor ipsum facilisis. Proin pellentesque sapien a ultricies ultricies. Donec porta ante sed nulla consequat pharetra. Quisque malesuada facilisis turpis. Etiam volutpat, lectus nec rhoncus egestas, libero lectus egestas magna, sit amet eleifend nunc leo sit amet purus. Duis nec lectus maximus, posuere orci vel, dictum orci. Nullam id arcu nec neque placerat varius. Fusce aliquam magna et tellus blandit luctus. From this to this Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam condimentum ex et nunc interdum, eu porttitor ipsum facilisis. Proin pellentesque sapien a ultricies ultricies. Donec porta ante sed nulla consequat pharetra. Quisque malesuada facilisis turpis. Etiam volutpat, lectus nec rhoncus egestas, libero lectus egestas magna, sit amet eleifend nunc leo sit amet purus. Duis nec lectus maximus, posuere orci vel, dictum orci. Nullam id arcu nec neque placerat varius. Fusce aliquam magna et tellus blandit luctus. Not Sure Where to Start? New to the Craft? Take our quiz now. Take The Quiz