Trying something new

[Draken]

A coworker has asked for a segmented pen. I've come up with an idea, but I needed to see if it would work or not. This is the result of the first test. Hard to see in the photo, but there is thin aluminum strips between the curly maple and the redheart running the length of the pen.
Comments and criticisms welcome.

 

[kkwall]

Very nice pen, and good work on the segmentation.[8D]

Can just about see the aluminium in the photo. Hope it shows up more in person, as it is a lot of added work if you cant see it very well. Again Nice work.

 

[gerryr]

Unfortunately, I can't see the aluminum, but it could just be my monitor, a pretty old Dell. The work looks good, although it looks like the redheart doesn't quite meet the nib fitting. That could be a photographic aberration and I've seen plenty of those. What did you use for a finish?

 

[JimGo]

The pic doesn't do the pen justice - I got to see this one in person yesterday! The aluminum is very subtle, but it really makes the demarcation between the woods nice and crisp.

 

[richstick1]

cool - I like it. Maybe try some dyed black veneer instead of the aluminum to really set the woods apart?

 

[Draken]

Thanks for the comments everyone. This is the first step towards something grander, needed to make sure the metal in line with the pen wouldn't cause any problems with turning it. Didn't want the blank to delaminate at the wood-metal joint. The metal is very subtle, but that will be the look wanted in the final pen. And the final pen will include metal as well as some black dyed veneer, and a few other things. [] Just hope it works like I have pictured in my mind... []

Almost forgot, the finish is lacquer, the only finish I currently use. And all of the fits are spot on, must be a photo illusion.

 

[ahoiberg]

nice work draken. the segmenting is fun. where did you get the aluminum thin enough to use in something like that?

 

[Draken]

Pepsi can. [] Make sure you sand the inside to remove the plastic liner and the outside to remove the ink. I used 220 on a random orbit sander. Clamp it down so it doesn't try to spin on you, and wear gloves, that stuff is sharp!

 

[Texatdurango]

Hi Draken,

After attending a "wave pen" demo Saturday, I am having similar thoughts of using aluminum, which I have on hand, to do some similar color seperations with.

What I am faced with and see with the pen is not enough contrast between the maple and aluminum. I would think it needs to be sandwiched between two darker woods to really show itself off. I think the redheart/aluminum/thin redheart strip/aluminum/redheart would make a stunning pen!

Just my thoughts! []

George

 

[huntersilver]

Nice looking pen!

 

[ahoiberg]

thanks for the info, good idea!

 

[skiprat]

Hi James, I love when people try something new. Doing something like this does make things more enjoyable, doesn't it?
When I first saw it, I honestly wasn't taken by it. But then like most people I guess that I looked at the photo without reading your post. [B)] I too didn't see the ally strips.
I've never used really thin metal and would like to hear if you had any problems drilling for the tubes? And what method you used to turn it.

Cheers[]

 

[Draken]

Despite my fears, it turned basically as if the aluminum wasn't even there. Drilling and turning weren't an issue. Used the skew as usual, and finished it my normal way as well. Now to start working on the final design, that will take a while.