This weekend's work - first Jr. Gent's and a SL

[JimGo]

Turned all of these yesterday; a Cocobolo slimline for my wife's friend, a Cocobolo Jr. Gent, and a Wenge Jr. Gent. Tried buffing them with Jeweler's rouge, but the Wenge and the Cocobolo SL both didn't like it for some reason. Had to hand-sand both to fix some blurry spots in the finish. Then I threw the Wenge onto the lathe to touch it up even more. Wound up putting another coat of CA on it, and just leaving it at that coat. The Cocobolo SL was OK without the extra CA coat. The Cocobolo Jr. Gent. came out OK first try.

Comments, criticism, etc. welcome. BTW, anyone know what happened to that "anonymous pen critic?" Not that I think I'm up to that caliber yet, but...

Thanks for looking! Oh, and thanks to ILikeWood for the Cocobolo on the Jr. Gent; the sapwood really made a nice contrast. The other two blanks came from two different eBay suppliers.

 

[DCBluesman]

Very nice work, Jim! FYI, when you are ready, the PenCritic can be reached at PenCritic(at)aol.com. He does not accept attachments. Pics must be embedded in the message...and yes, I have availed myself of his service...got some extremely valuable feedback!

 

[JimGo]

Thanks Lou. Took your advice WRT the sanding, and these came out much better than most of the others you saw this weekend.

 

[ilikewood]

Hi Jim,

I have had a ton more luck using CA to seal and then using a lacquer over....especially with Cocobolo. It is much easier too because you can sand the CA down to the wood again and then apply the laquer. I haven't tried poly yet, but I hear it is nice too.

You did nice work there Jim!!

PS - on a personal note...Package goes out Monday!!

 

[Ken Massingale]

Originally posted by JimGo
<br />Turned all of these yesterday; a Cocobolo slimline for my wife's friend, a Cocobolo Jr. Gent, and a Wenge Jr. Gent. Tried buffing them with Jeweler's rouge, but the Wenge and the Cocobolo SL both didn't like it for some reason. Had to hand-sand both to fix some blurry spots in the finish. Then I threw the Wenge onto the lathe to touch it up even more. Wound up putting another coat of CA on it, and just leaving it at that coat. The Cocobolo SL was OK without the extra CA coat. The Cocobolo Jr. Gent. came out OK first try.

Comments, criticism, etc. welcome. BTW, anyone know what happened to that "anonymous pen critic?" Not that I think I'm up to that caliber yet, but...

<br />

Thanks for looking!

Real nice work, Jim. Especially the spalted coco from the Fancy lot that <u>I</u>, <u>me</u>, Ken, wanted very badly,[] but wasn't fast enough on the grab to get. That Wenge is real picky about how it wants to be turned isn't it?
Again, very nice pens.
ken

 

[swm6500]

Nice pens Jim. We just keep on learning don't we?

 

[JimGo]

Ken, you should see the rest of the blanks, they're beautiful! Okay...no more teasing... Yes, the Wenge was a PAIN! I lost a pen's worth of blanks last week just trying to make this stupid pen! Both of them exploded as I got close to the bushing size. Oh well, live and learn! Bill, thanks for the great Cocobolo! (Sorry, meant to give you credit earlier!)

 

[rtjw]

Barons are nice, still undecided on the slimline.

 

[JimGo]

Thanks Johnny! I'm not that thrilled with the shape of the slimline either, but my wife specifically requested it. Since it is a gift for a friend of her's, I did what she asked!

 

[Ken Massingale]

Originally posted by JimGo
<br /> but my wife specifically requested it. Since it is a gift for a friend of her's, I did what she asked!

BAH!!![)]
You're just like the rest of us, Jim. You would have done what she said regardless of the reason!![][][]
I believe it's called a little smart, and a whole lotta skeered!
ken

 

[JimGo]

LOL...wow, I didn't think my wife's reputation had spread THAT far South!

FWIW, she read the comments on it, and kept asking me what was wrong with it!

Oh, and Michael, I now know how you feel about that Kingwood. I kept staring at the Cocobolo Jr. Gent all day today and smiling!

 

[woodscavenger]

Great pens, terrible photo background. I think a lighter background would really help us see the pens and grain. The textured background is overpowering.

 

[JimGo]

Thanks Woodscavenger! What do you recommend as a background?

 

[woodpens]

Originally posted by JimGo
<br />Comments, criticism, etc. welcome. BTW, anyone know what happened to that "anonymous pen critic?" Not that I think I'm up to that caliber yet, but...

Did he disappear about the same time Eagle went away?

Nice job on your pens!

 

[DCBluesman]

Jim G--try something off-white. Seems to help with most pictures. I use a pillow case.

 

[Gary]

Jim, the Gents look great...the Slimline I don't care for. I agree with an earlier post...toss the background.

 

[JimGo]

Thanks for the input, both on the pens and the background. FWIW, the background is the stingray skin I've been fighting with and trying to make a pen out of (and complaining about in my cast resin post).

 

[Fleabit]

Nice set of pens.

 

[Gregory Huey]

Great looking pens but a little hard to see.