Lever action with spalted hackberry

[DigBaddy72]

First lever action pen I've made. Pretty happy with this one. One thing that bugs me is how "busy" the pen seems. The grain pattern combined with all the intricate designs in the kit, I think they detract from each other. Next one I do, I plan on looking for something with less figure. Thanks for looking.

 

[mark james]

First lever action pen I've made. Pretty happy with this one. One thing that bugs me is how "busy" the pen seems. The grain pattern combined with all the intricate designs in the kit, I think they detract from each other. Next one I do, I plan on looking for something with less figure. Thanks for looking.

The colors in the wood are a great match to the kit. If the colors were a bit off I would agree with the grain being a detraction. But with this combination - I love it!

Nice job.

 

[mecompco]

Keith, I don't dislike it. It IS a pretty piece of timber. Whether it belongs on a lever action or not, IDK. I really like nice Walnut on a firearm related pen, preferably from an actual gun stock. But, who knows? I'm sure someone will love it.

Regards,
Michael

 

[rd_ab_penman]

Great looking piece of timber.
Looks under quite a bit turned at the nib end?

Les

 

[mecompco]

Great looking piece of timber.
Looks under quite a bit turned at the nib end?

Les

I wasn't going to mention it, but yes, the wood looks a bit proud to me as well.

Regards,
Michael

 

[OZturner]

Excellent Pen, Keith.
Just using the photograph, as a reference, at first glance of the small photograph, it looked like an Antler Blank, I think it looks Great.
Love that Spalted Hackberry, a very spectacularl wood.
Congratulations,
Brian.

 

[SteveAxelrod]

Nice pairing of blank and pen!

 

[DigBaddy72]

Yeah it is a little proud. I've been having an issue when trying to finish a blank with a skew and the skew catching on that end of the blank and chipping out. Still working on getting better.

Thanks for the critiques! Always love being pushed beyond my comfort zone.

 

[qquake]

Yeah it is a little proud. I've been having an issue when trying to finish a blank with a skew and the skew catching on that end of the blank and chipping out. Still working on getting better.

Thanks for the critiques! Always love being pushed beyond my comfort zone.

Why don't you finish with a gouge? I use a gouge exclusively, as I never did learn to use a skew properly. Seems to me that the curved cross section of the tip of a gouge would be much easier for turning the ends of the blank to the bushing diameter.

 

[DigBaddy72]

Why don't you finish with a gouge? I use a gouge exclusively, as I never did learn to use a skew properly. Seems to me that the curved cross section of the tip of a gouge would be much easier for turning the ends of the blank to the bushing diameter.

I didn't think of that. Plus, I want to perfect my skew techniques. I love how I rarely have to sand after running a skew over the piece. Saves a TON of time.