A batch for the local Iron Workers Union
- Thread starter holmqer
- Start date
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Gregf
Member
Look neat! Really a fitting design for the iron workers.
Do you coat the rebar with something ?
Do you coat the rebar with something ?
What a great job.
Lenny
Member
The thought of a re-bar pen didn't do much for me until I clicked on the picture and saw them ..... WOW! they really go great matched with that kit too! Well done!
That's really cool. I can't even imagine how you would go about making those pens, but, if I was an Iron Worker, I would want one!
You might want to ask them to introduce you to some other local unions in the area. You might be able to sell special pens to the bricklayers (cast brick dust), carpenters (wood, haha), elecrical workers, wire or copper, sheet metal workers, an aluminum blank, etc. Part of my career was spent setting up health & Welfare and Pension trusts for unions and they are a close group.
You might want to ask them to introduce you to some other local unions in the area. You might be able to sell special pens to the bricklayers (cast brick dust), carpenters (wood, haha), elecrical workers, wire or copper, sheet metal workers, an aluminum blank, etc. Part of my career was spent setting up health & Welfare and Pension trusts for unions and they are a close group.
slink74659
Member
That's really cool. How much does one weigh?
Thanks, per their request, they are not coated or seriously wire brushed. I filled a Tupperware container with sand and blanks and put it in the lathe at 250 RPM for an hour to get the worst of the rust off, then hand brushed a few spots.
For the ones I make for non Iron Workers, I power wire brush and coat with lacquer.
Glass Scratcher
Member
How much do they weigh? Did you use a particular/special drill bit to drill them?
Thanks,
They weigh 52g. By way of comparison, the same kit with a Maple blank weighs 37g.
They weigh 52g
Drilling is a bit of a trick question!
I picked up one of those boxes of several twist drill in each of various sizes on sale at Woodcraft. Drilled one pass at 1/4" and one pass at 3/8" then the trick, a 0.391" Chucking Reamer that drills a perfect 0.391" hole which is the I.D. of a Sierra tube.
For the twist drills, I used each bit for a few blanks and set it aside for sharpening some day when I get a Drill Doctor.
As the Chucking Reamer was only removing a few thousandths, I did not worry about it going dull on me. This reamer has over 3 dozen re-bar pens so far and still appears fine.
wizard
Member
Very cool and handsome set of pens. Looks tough !!
latelearner
Member
Those really look neat. Just be glad they didn't ask for something using #18 bar.:biggrin:
corian king
Member
Very Nice pens!! Great work!!
ctubbs
Member
Wonderful pens! I have to cut rebar from time to time and find that one cut works fine while the next cut may take three or more blades. I do not envy the work in trying to drill that much rebar. Congratulations of a job well done!
Charles
Charles
jttheclockman
Member
Nice job and great idea. If you had a way of putting a local number on ther it would even be better. Wonder how a decal would hold up on the finial of the pen. Can I ask what you are getting for them???
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I use bi-metal blades and have yet to break one, while my original blade broke early on.
Drilling was actually not that bad, I did it assembly line style. I had 18 blanks ready and drilled 1/4" on all of them, tossing the bit in the sharpen pile every 4 or 5 blanks. Then went to 3/8" and did 6 or 7 before swapping bits. The worst part was actually keeping the work area clean enough to work safely and accurately.
I still have 6 or so blanks to ream 0.391 then turn tapers on.