Gossamer Red - "Glossy Goss"

[davinci27]

Okay I finally turned the piece of gossamer red I ordered from exoticblanks.com and I have to say it is very interesting. First and foremost it is hard. Sharp tools and patience are a must. Second it stinks. I don't mean it just smells bad, it actually burns your nose and makes your eyes water. It's like turning curing CA.

Now on the good side it's really pretty, and has some pretty nice effects. I'm still working on getting the inside polished, so you get that crystal clear look. I don't know if you can see it in the pics, but you can actually see the nib and the ink through the red. Another neat effect si that it appears to glow when hit with bright light. You can really see the glow in one of the pictures. Just in case you're wondering, they had one piece left last time I was at the site.

The pens is goassamer red and alt ivory and the componants came from a sedona. I don't know how happy I am with the shape, but I do like the materials.

 

[papaturner]

Beautiful work Ben. It`s an awesome pen.

 

[Skye]

That turned out great! You need to stick something into the resiviour so people can see the translucence of it.

I think you should throw your hat in the ring for the hidden clip demo.

I probably would have made the body a haaaaaaair longer, but that' just me.

 

[me2cyclops]

nice to see it finished looks good

 

[Steve Busey]

Ben, that looks great.

For those that missed it, here's what it looked like Saturday:

 

[ronhampton]

nice work, ben

 

[VisExp]

That looks great Ben!

 

[ldb2000]

Beautiful job Ben . That is really cool looking , I was going to get some of those blanks but now I guess I'll have to wait .

 

[Nickfff]

Very nice! Good color combo!

How did you do the clip?

 

[thewishman]

Verily beautiful! Elegant design and nice lines. The photos are good, too.

 

[chriselle]

That's very trick Ben. The hidden clip looks great , too. I think I would like a little more red on the body because..umm...I like red.:biggrin:

 

[skiprat]

Ben, that looks really great!!!:biggrin:

I suppose I could google it, but is Gossamer always red or is it the name of the material? I think it would look cool in blue too. I think you should make a pair ( then send the blue one to me:biggrin: )

 

[cnirenberg]

Ben,
That came out great. I like the Red/alt. Ivory combo. Was there a problem finishing or drilling?

 

[LouisQC]

A stunner! I love the translucence of the red!

 

[davinci27]

Thanks folks. I'm still working out polishing the inside of the barrels. I'd really like to get the insides as clear as the outside. I've attached another shoot that shows the translucence a little better. The only bad part about being able to see through the blanks is it's much easier to see the mistakes. Take a look at the cap shot I attached. You an see the hole is slightly off center. Here are a few user specific replies:

I was going to get some of those blanks but now I guess I'll have to wait

There's still one blank over there you better get it before it's gone.

I probably would have made the body a haaaaaaair longer, but that' just me.

The body is actually longer than a standard busing to bushing pen. I think the problem is actually the top is too long. Since you can see through the cap, you can see where the pen actually ends, and it makes the top appear longer. Look at the side by side shot I attached.

How did you do the clip?

I use a pinhole drill to make couple of starter holes. Then I use a small saw. I ground all but two of the teeth off the saw. I use this to connect the 2 starter holes. Then I put a small razor saw through the new opening and use that to make the finished size. I'm still practicing.

is Gossamer always red or is it the name of the material? I think it would look cool in blue too. I think you should make a pair ( then send the blue one to me:biggrin: )

I've only seen it in red. I asked Ed about it and he said dawn came across it on one of her internet search sets. He said they only got one piece big enough to make 4 blanks. I'd love to find some blue or green. I'm thinking of making a whole pen out of the material so you can see all the inner workings.

You might end up with the red one. I made it for the eagle swap, but it has a few issues so I haven't decided if it will end up going out or not

Was there a problem finishing or drilling?

No issues turning it other than it is really hard material and the fumes from turning it are pretty strong. It polishes well.

 

[arjudy]

I love what you did with that one. Good use of that material.

 

[mick]

Ben, that's awesome! I see Ed's got one blank left ......hmm

 

[workinforwood]

Looks really nice to me Ben. I like the colors, the shape, the tubeless effect. Too bad about the offcentric cap..but I'll still use it when you send it to me. I prefer minor defects...make the pen human. I know if I made it it wouldn't be better than that.

 

[Skye]

Man, it is longer. I'm not sure what made me think otherwise because this was when I saw it in person, without the cap. I think it must be the way the kits are so slender towards the nib, that long chrome piece plays tricks on my eyes.

 

[GouletPens]

Man, it is longer. I'm not sure what made me think otherwise because this was when I saw it in person, without the cap. I think it must be the way the kits are so slender towards the nib, that long chrome piece plays tricks on my eyes.

Every CE baron I've ever made has been too long. The thing definitely plays tricks on your eyes. The best thing is to decide exactly how long you want it to be and actually measure it while you're turning it. Otherwise you'll end up with a 10" long pen:tongue:

 

[davinci27]

10" pen?? Seems like I saw something like that in one of the bash contests. Now if only I could remember who submitted that pen????:wink::biggrin:

I'm finally getting the sizes pretty close to the minimal length it can be and still work with both a roller ball and a fountain point.

 

[Stick Rounder]

Beautiful pen!