BOW / Cross

[jkeithrussell]

Here are a few quickie desk-top photos of my latest. It's BOW with an insert made of Redheart. A lot of folks use Bloodwood for the religious themed pens, but I like working with Redheart better. This is a simple laser cut project.

 

[Russell Eaton]

That looks very nice. I have done some custom inlays on pens and I think the Redheart look very good.

 

[Chief Hill]

Great Job.

 

[dustmaker]

Looks fantastic. I think the redheart goes very well with the BOW.

 

[ttpenman]

Great looking pen. You say "simple laser cut" For those of us who are really 'simple' can you briefly explain the procedure for laser cutting a cross on a pen like this?

Been away from penmaking for a year. Trying hard to get back in it.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

 

[jkeithrussell]

Great looking pen. You say "simple laser cut" For those of us who are really 'simple' can you briefly explain the procedure for laser cutting a cross on a pen like this?

Been away from penmaking for a year. Trying hard to get back in it.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

You take 2 blanks -- one for the main barrel, and one in contrasting material for the insert -- and round them over to 5/8". Put them in a collet chuck and drill out the hole for the size of tube you'll be using. Mark where you want the cross (or whatever) cut, and send or deliver them to a laser engraver. It costs about $5 per cut. When you get them back, just insert your tube and glue the cross made from the contrasting material into the matching hole in the main barrel, turn to final shape, sand, and finish. You can PM me for more details if that explanation doesn't make sense. You really need to be set up to drill using a collet chuck for these to work.

 

[ttpenman]

Thanks for the explanation. 2 quick questions:

does the engraver use a rotary attachment? (I assume he does)

how do you get the black line around the cross?

Jeff

 

[chance]

Correct me if I am wrong but from my trials with celtic crosses, the black line is just the CA inside the space between the two materials. Very nice pen BTW!

 

[jkeithrussell]

Thanks for the explanation. 2 quick questions:

does the engraver use a rotary attachment? (I assume he does)

how do you get the black line around the cross?

Jeff

The black line is either from the burnt sides of the cross inlay or from the CA -- I'm not sure which. I use the same method to make Texas flag pens and they always have a thin black line as well.

I don't know anything about the equipment that the engraver uses.

 

[bitshird]

I like the grain of the red heart better than the normally tight grain of bloodwood, the Red heart shows more character.