Blue Lapis

[Jim in Oakville]

Every time I turn a blue lapis it feels like a work out to make one pen. I have broken them more often than I can remember but when I get one through to a final pen I feel like it's an achievement.

This is my latest, a Lotus FP on a Blue Lapis

Thanks!

 

[renowb]

That's a fine looking pen. The blue really goes good with the gold. I like it!

 

[Fred]

Thanks for showing us your work. The pen is indeed a very beautiful one. The gold in the blank really is pulled out with the gold of the kit.

Would you share with us the source for your blank? Several of us might just like to use it ourselves and the information would be quite helpful. :biggrin:

 

[skiprat]

I love the Blue Lapis blanks and even though they are 'hard work' the results are great. You made a great choice of kit/blank. :wink:

 

[Pioneerpens]

wow, very sharp looking pen! nicely done!

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Would you share with us the source for your blank? Several of us might just like to use it ourselves and the information would be quite helpful. :biggrin:

Sure you bet, this blank came from Craft Supply USA about 4 years ago, I have since changed my Tru Stone supplier to William Wood-write

 

[IPD_Mrs]

You can also get them from RandB Crafts which has a 20% off discount right now. They are out of Florida for those in the US.

 

[markgum]

WOW. Great looking pen and the Gold really stands out with blue. GREAT JOB>

 

[Padre]

Have you ever turned real lapis?

 

[DurocShark]

Looks great. Blue and gold are possibly my favorite combination.

 

[seamus7227]

Excellent complementary color match! Well done!

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Have you ever turned real lapis?

Reeeeeal Lapis?? I've turned lots of Real Lapis according to my vendours, LOL... Hard, Real Hard!

Not all Tru Stone Lapis are equal, the ones with sulphide veining are harder than the other versions I have worked with.

 

[ed4copies]

If you just want a couple pieces of tru-stone, you can add it to your order at ExoticBlanks. Still trying to be your "one-stop shop" for all things "pen making":biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Thanks and GREAT pen, Jim!!!

I have two like that and I agree, they represent an "achievement"--Good turning!!!!

 

[Rick_G]

Great looking pen Jim. I've done a few truestone and from the sounds of this stuff I think I'll leave it alone until I can make myself one of those carbide cutters.

 

[Jim in Oakville]

If you just want a couple pieces of tru-stone, you can add it to your order at ExoticBlanks. Still trying to be your "one-stop shop" for all things "pen making":biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Does that mean you'll toss them in or do I have to pay??

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Great looking pen Jim. I've done a few truestone and from the sounds of this stuff I think I'll leave it alone until I can make myself one of those carbide cutters.

Hey Rick, if you make one, I'd be very interested in buying one from you my friend..

 

[gwilki]

Beautiful piece, Jim. Well worth the workout, I would say.

 

[ctubbs]

Jim, a quality pen. The fit and finish are outstanding. Blue and Gold are my school colors. Those two really go well together. Congratulations on a beautiful pen and getting the blank turned in one piece.
Charles

 

[jeff]

Here's an oldie but a goodie! Looks very nice on the front page, Jim. :biggrin:

I've had this on my list to feature for quite a while. Not sure why it took me a year, but there it is now!

 

[wiset1]

Really GREAT looking pen and it looks fantastic on the front page!

 

[PenMan1]

Glad to see you "walking on the wild side", Jim. Now that you have tamed the lapis beast, it'll be hard to regress back to "mere wood".

Nicely done, Congrats on the front page!

 

[Lenny]

I too like the combination of the blue and gold and agree it looks GREAT on the front page!

 

[JohnU]

That's one beautiful Jim! Congrats in the home page. It's well deserved.

 

[el_d]

Looks great On the front Page. Congrats...

 

[maxman400]

Congrats on the front page, Great looking Pen.

 

[skiprat]

Here's an oldie but a goodie! Looks very nice on the front page, Jim. :biggrin:

I've had this on my list to feature for quite a while. Not sure why it took me a year, but there it is now!

Wow!! Talk about being indicisive!!!!:tongue:




Congrats Jim, well deserved!!:biggrin:

 

[wizard]

Beautiful!

It's gorgeous! I don't know how I missed this pen when you first posted. I love the way the gold veins in the Lapis really accent the gold hardware and vice versa. Jim, You did an outstanding job and that pen goes perfectly with the front page!!!
Regards, Doc

 

[Dalecamino]

Congratulations on the front page Jim. It IS a beauty!

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Wow, I am stunned, I have never been on the cover and want to say Thank You very much.

I have always enjoyed seeing others work on the cover and never thought about my work being there, it's very humbling and I am very flattered.. and from a year ago at that..

Thank you everyone for your kind and thoughtful words, it is much appreciated.

 

[mrcook4570]

Fantastic pen! Lapis is tough to turn, but very much worth the effort.

 

[jjudge]

carbide tool

I posted a how-to in the Tools, Jigs section on making them.

Great looking pen Jim. I've done a few truestone and from the sounds of this stuff I think I'll leave it alone until I can make myself one of those carbide cutters.

 

[jjudge]

Does the pen feel heavy? ... I've got some Tru Stone, and yes - a Lapis one -- that I've not gotten around to turning.

My thoughts are that they'd be a lot more heavy.

 

[Lenny]

Does the pen feel heavy? ... I've got some Tru Stone, and yes - a Lapis one -- that I've not gotten around to turning.

My thoughts are that they'd be a lot more heavy.

They are a heavier pen ..... A heft that wil equate with quality to many customers! For good reason IMO.

 

[scotian12]

An outstanding looking pen Jim, and well deserved on the front page.

 

[76winger]

Great looking pen!
I've done one Blue Lapis so far, and it's what prompted me to bite the bullet and get a carbide tipped cutter (at least for hard stuff like this). I still like the skew for most pen turning though.

 

[kenspens]

great job Jim
love it!!! outstanding workmanship and choice of kit for the material
i am thinking of making a real lapis blank from the real thing!!

ken brown
kens exotic pen artistry

 

[weasel1219]

Pen kits

Your work is great and the look is very eye catching.
I am impressed with the pen kit also and would like to know
where to get a hold of some.

Thanks in advance

 

[Toni]

Great looking pen on the front page!

 

[raar25]

Very nice, I am not sure if it is the lighting but it looks like you have the same condition I have with finish. I can never get the lapis to keep a gloss shine. It seems like an hour after I have it shining it starts to loose some of its shine.

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Very nice, I am not sure if it is the lighting but it looks like you have the same condition I have with finish. I can never get the lapis to keep a gloss shine. It seems like an hour after I have it shining it starts to loose some of its shine.

I know what you mean, the polished surface sometimes dulls down with exposure. In my case the shine is there, the lighting I use with my photo's are very soft and seldom show a hard shine. My process for wet sanding Tru Stone is to wet sand at a slow speed and work from 400 to 12,000, then Novus 2 polish at high speed, it always produces a shine. I Hope that helps!