May 2015 PITH Pictures

[alankulwicki7]

Here is the pen my son, Nate, received from Andrew (mike4066's son) for the Youth swap. It's a pen that looks like Yoda's light saber! Also included in the package were some cool blanks:biggrin:

Since I'm 500 miles from home right now, I'm just going by the pictures that my wife sent me but the pen looks amazing! Nathan is very happy with it and I can't wait to see it in person. Maybe Mike can chime in with a few more details about the pen

Ironically enough, Nate and Andrew have the same interests: baseball, Star Wars, Legos, and Minecraft and they both picked Star Wars themes for their pens :biggrin:

 

[mike4066]

Maybe Mike can chime in with a few more details about the pen

Ironically enough, Nate and Andrew have the same interests: baseball, Star Wars, Legos, and Minecraft and they both picked Star Wars themes for their pens :biggrin:

That about covers it.
It's a slimline without the clip. Andrew helped mix and pour the pearl-ex green light saber portion, and apply the decals to the handle. The handle is aluminum HVAC tape with black vinyl strips. We were going to cast it in PR but the edges kept lifting, so I (didn't want 7 year old Andrew glued to the lathe, or using the accelerator) used CA to build the finish.

I wanted to do a closed end pen with a longer light saber, but Andrew said this is what he wanted. He's thrilled with how it turned out and that's what matters.

Glad Nate likes it.

My wife took this pic right before she mailed it..

 

[Flynny]

PITH 2015

As promised here are some pix of my pens and blanks from Truckfixr a/k/a Chuck. The pens are a Navigator with logos of all the Boston sports teams and a WS II with a Shner Bock Beer cap imbeded.
The blanks from the top are 4,000 year old Bog Oak, 2 Mesquite, Blue Mahoe, 2 50,000 year old Kauri, Zebra wood and Big Leaf Maple. They should keep me busy for a while.

 

[Smitty37]

Here is my pen from Smitty. Beautiful pen. Also received 2 Caballero pen kits and 5 beautiful blanks. Thanks Smitty. I LOVE THESE PITH'S!!!:biggrin:
Please forgive the poor photos. A photographer I ain't!:embarrassed:

I apologize that due to a bout with shingles almost incapacitating my right arm I was not able to tun a pen but had to use one I turned a couple of years ago. I am almost to where I might venture a chance at turning next week but I'm still not quite up to par.

 

[Jeff turns]

Received my pen from Robert yesterday. WOW is all I can say ! Fantastic pen will get pics up this weekend. By the way sent me a load of interesting blanks I am sure is going to make some beautiful pens. Thanks Robert yours is on the way.

 

[TBCbushings]

Here is the pen I'm sending to my pith partner....it's in the pouch!

 

[Rounder]

Here is my pen from Smitty. Beautiful pen. Also received 2 Caballero pen kits and 5 beautiful blanks. Thanks Smitty. I LOVE THESE PITH'S!!!:biggrin:
Please forgive the poor photos. A photographer I ain't!:embarrassed:

I apologize that due to a bout with shingles almost incapacitating my right arm I was not able to tun a pen but had to use one I turned a couple of years ago. I am almost to where I might venture a chance at turning next week but I'm still not quite up to par.

A pen is a pen is a pen. It is a beautiful pen and I like it. Reminds me of the Deep Blue Sea song that Bob Schnieder sings. Now that's entertainment!

 

[Edward Cypher]

Can't wait Nikitas!! Thanks!!

 

[Brian Frank]

Mack C was my pith partner. Mack sent a fountain pen made with a blank with Real shredded Canadian paper money that was purchased from the Bank of Canada. Bellsy cast it for him. 3 cartridges from the Private Reserve of Exotic Blanks, one each of Velvet Black, Dakota Red, and American Blue.
He had a member of his woodworking club do the laser engraving on the box and the pen.. He also supplied the box, at a price Mack couldn't possibly match anywhere. Here are a few pictures. Great Job on the Pen Mack. Thank you

 

[mlconnelly]

Finished and Ready to Send

Just finished my pen for Nicole (Simsonicole) and should have it in the mail tomorrow on it's way to Australia. So I thought I would leave a little clue about the pen since it might take a few days to get there. Since her family owns an instrument repair shop I thought that this would be appropriate.
.

 

[Smitty37]

Great Pen from Rounder

This is the great pen I received from Rounder a.k.a. Randy Short. I'm not sure what kit it is but it is a great segmented click in what appears to be Black Ti. Randy will need to fill us in on exactly what the blank is, but I can tell you the workmanship, fit and finish are supurb. the second picture is the 4 misquite and one Spalted Pecan blank that came with the pen....Thanks Randy for a great addition to my collection

 

[Simsonicole]

Just a teaser...

Hey Mike...this is where your blank was cut from. After the neck was cut out...you should get it any day now! :handshake:

 

[Skeleton2014]

May 2015 PITH from Scotty

Here's what Scotty sent me:

A very nice laser cut coy blank and antler blank that represent what he does for entertainment... fishing and hunting. This brought back great memories of fishing with my dad in the Sierra Nevada mountains when I was 5 or so. Not much fun for my dad because I would cast out to my "secret" spot, hook up almost immediately and reel it in. By the time he helped net it and put in on the stringer, I had already cast out and hooked the next one! This was early 1960's back country lakes and we would always catch our limit!
The six blanks from back to front: two cast resin blanks that Scotty did himself, pistachio, spalted birch, Lebanon cedar, and amb maple.

Thanks again Scotty!!!

Jeff

 

[Krash]

I finally got all the components for my PITH pen for Mike, aka healeydays. I had Saturday all cleared out and reserved to GitErDun.



Then Friday night, we got the call ....



My 20 year old son had a long boarding accident. No helmet (stupid) and going too fast (foolish), he caught a crack going down a concrete ditch and belly-flopped. We were in the emergency room all night ... no sleep .... but thankfully got discharged at 8:00. He had a concussion, a fractured liver, and an enlarged spleen. :beat-up:

Even after a little sleep, I was too loopy to operate my toothbrush let alone a bandsaw, lathe, and sander. :hypnotized:

So, Mr. PITH is still waiting. :crying:

I did get in some preliminary work earlier last week so I thought I'd post a teaser ... just so Mike knew it was in process. It's a segmented piece of ebony ...

It kinda looks entertaining ... right?

Hang in there Mike ..... it's-a comin' !!

.
.
.

 

[Edgar]

...

Then Friday night, we got the call ....

My 20 year old son had a long boarding accident. No helmet (stupid) and going too fast (foolish), he caught a crack going down a concrete ditch and belly-flopped. We were in the emergency room all night ... no sleep .... but thankfully got discharged at 8:00. He had a concussion, a fractured liver, and an enlarged spleen. :beat-up:

Even after a little sleep, I was too loopy to operate my toothbrush let alone a bandsaw, lathe, and sander. :hypnotized:
...

Wow, Kelly - that had to be one scary and agonizing night. I'm glad to hear your son is doing better though. We will keep him in our prayers and hope he has a full and speedy recovery.

 

[Cwalker935]

I finally got all the components for my PITH pen for Mike, aka healeydays. I had Saturday all cleared out and reserved to GitErDun.



Then Friday night, we got the call ....



My 20 year old son had a long boarding accident. No helmet (stupid) and going too fast (foolish), he caught a crack going down a concrete ditch and belly-flopped. We were in the emergency room all night ... no sleep .... but thankfully got discharged at 8:00. He had a concussion, a fractured liver, and an enlarged spleen. :beat-up:

I hope all is well with your son.

 

[Edward Cypher]

My Pith from Brian

Got Christmas early. Brian Nikitas turned a beautiful bottle cap blank he made. Don't know how he knew I have been trying to make a bottle cap blank for about a year and cannot get the caps to look decent. This one is beautiful. Plus an awesome Bethlehem Olive wood blank. a woodcraft green blank, a copper/silver blank and a blue one that will look awesome on a nautical pen. My daughter in the Navy will love it. Thanks Brian.



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[Edward Cypher]

To Brian Nikitas enjoy.

Brian Nikitas should have received my Pith so here is what I sent him. I sent 2 sierra's both blanks were made from me. The White with chunks in it I call Heaven's window, this is my 2nd try at this type of blank. I think the name of it should be in keeping with the Pith "Get me to the Church on Time" as it does resemble stained glass windows. The second one is a pinecone that I cast this is about the 4th one. I really like when it is off centered but it is very hard to get it to come out right I think this one is perfect, even though the pic is bad. It is made with Colorado Blue Spruce pine cones. So once again keeping with the entertainment them it's name is "Colorado Christmas". Hope you like em Brian.


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[mike4066]

PITH - Youth

My son Austin received his pen from Truckfixr's granddaughter, and he absolutely loves it. It was the perfect pairing of to swap partners, same age, interests/hobbies.

It's Dr Who logo "Tardis" Sierra style pen and some really great/interesting blanks.

Austin really enjoyed the youth pen swap.

 

[mike4066]

PITH - Youth

Andrew received his pen from Nate (alankulwicki7) son's. He loves the pen, and really liked finding the Starburst candy in the box! It's another paring of two kids who have similar interests. He is really excited about the pen and can't wait for school so he can start using it!

He also wants to make another pen with the acrylic blank that was sent, so it we have more to make!

thanks,
Andrew/Mike

 

[TBCbushings]

I want to thank Ed for the pens...I feel I cheated him because he sent me a full box of stuff! The pens were awesome! I have wanted a pine cone pen for a long time and now I have one!! Thanks Ed! My wife saw the glow blank and I have to make a pen for her now LOL... Awesome work! Glad you like the bottle caps! I got them from a friend from Germany and cast them and turned them myself... This was fun to participate in! Cant wait till the next one.
Thanks again Ed!!!!

Brian Nikitas should have received my Pith so here is what I sent him. I sent 2 sierra's both blanks were made from me. The White with chunks in it I call Heaven's window, this is my 2nd try at this type of blank. I think the name of it should be in keeping with the Pith "Get me to the Church on Time" as it does resemble stained glass windows. The second one is a pinecone that I cast this is about the 4th one. I really like when it is off centered but it is very hard to get it to come out right I think this one is perfect, even though the pic is bad. It is made with Colorado Blue Spruce pine cones. So once again keeping with the entertainment them it's name is "Colorado Christmas". Hope you like em Brian.


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[Fordwakeman]

Got my gift in the mail today from Tieflyer. It's an awesome example of segmenting. I don't know all of the details but it appears to be Oak and the "center band "has at least 11 segments in it of at least 4 different materials . Awesome , Awesome job. Great fit and finish. The pen came in its own pouch. And I received the following wood blanks.
1. Monkey Pod
2. Claro walnut
3. Buckeye burl
4. Texas ebony with SAP.
Thanks again TieFlyer for being my PITH partner

 

[Dale Lynch]

Got my pith in the mail today from penmaker1967.A black chrome panache w/gold nib dressed in saphie(not spelled right).Suprisingly light.The blanks are bocote and pecan.

Thank you Todd.

 

[Argo13]

Here is the pen I sent to tomtedesco. He received the pen yesterday. I went with a movie theme, "JAWS". I applied shark teeth to a blue fiber glass tube and cast in PR. Looking forward to the next PITH. This was fun.

 

[Rounder]

This is the great pen I received from Rounder a.k.a. Randy Short. I'm not sure what kit it is but it is a great segmented click in what appears to be Black Ti. Randy will need to fill us in on exactly what the blank is, but I can tell you the workmanship, fit and finish are supurb. the second picture is the 4 misquite and one Spalted Pecan blank that came with the pen....Thanks Randy for a great addition to my collection

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My theme was Land Down Under by Men at Work. This is a dwarf banksia pod and knotty pine from George. The kit is a PSI Slim line Pro modified to a single tube. Glad you like it Smitty.

 

[bjbear76]

I received my PITH from Chris "Clieb91" yesterday.

Chris made a Wall Street II pen using a plank from the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Very cool! Chris also included a solitaire game he makes; this one is made of cedar. It certainly kept the grandkids entertained! He also included some wood blanks.

Thanks Chris. I'll enjoy owning a pen with a story behind it.

 

[Mack C.]

My partner's (Brian Frank) pen arrived this am to a great clamour from my Kerry "Teddy" at the back door warning me of the postman's arrival.

Couldn't wait to open it up. Got a great selection of home hewn pen blanks of Brians along with a beautiful rollerball. A Baron, possibly or a Jr. Gent plated in Black Ti. The acrylic is a subtle shade of grape.

Thanks, Brian! And without further ado from me..................

 

[Leo S. Long]

P.I.T.H. From Brian G

Here is the pen and blanks Brian G. sent me! The pen looks great and thank you very much. Can't wait to turn the blanks.

Thanks Again Brian!

Leo S. Long

 

[Cwalker935]

After a very long and draining week, I came home to a much needed pickup- Keith's (DigBaddy72) package. It included a beautifully turned pen, 5 blanks and a bottle opener kit. One of the blanks is from a tree that his Great-Grandfather planted. I am honored to be the recipient of that blank. I have not done a bottle opener and am looking forward to doing something new. Thanks to Keith for brightening my day.

 

[Brian G]

Glad you like it, Leo! I had fun making it. Thank you for answering the questions that helped me settle on the entertainment theme of Detroit sports and fishing. This was my first attempt at clear casting a "photo". I leaned some things along the way.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's delivery.

Brian

 

[Scotty]

I got a box full of great stuff from Skeleton2014 (Jeff). Two great pens: the first a Wall Street ll in copper, cast with the Seattle Seahawks logo. The other one is a Red Box pen done on a SPW Caballero in chrome. The wild thing about it....it has five active promo codes for 5 free DVD's. He said he had problems trying to match the red so he finally went for an all white lower tube. I think he scored on both pens. That Red Box pen is a great idea. As if that wasn't enough, it really was a PITH, because everything was sitting in a Seattle Seahawks hat! The blanks are: Banksia "Hariy" pod resifill, Australian Blackwood Tree, Australian Peppercorn Tree, Australian Mugga Tree, and a Brooks Vintage blank.

 

[PenPal]

JOE TELLS ME MY PARCEL ARRIVED

My theme was the song I still call Australia Home. The parcel took me a morning to pack and send and Joe tells me it was the best packed parcel he has ever seen. I missed taking pics of the all Aussie blanks I enclosed.

The pen rest is an outside slice of Brown Mallee, the Pewter Platypus is a unique animal with a duck bill and beaverlike tail is a mammal air breating spends most of the time in a burrow above water level lays eggs and suckles its young with lovely fur.

The coin for Joes birth year.

The pen is Huon Pine from a 2000 yrs old tree it grows only in the rainforest of Tasmania in Australia and grows only mm,s each year.

Enclosed but not pictured were some Australia pen blanks. Joe says he is happy and his parcel is on its way.

Peter.

 

[Brian Frank]

My partner's (Brian Frank) pen arrived this am to a great clamour from my Kerry "Teddy" at the back door warning me of the postman's arrival.

Couldn't wait to open it up. Got a great selection of home hewn pen blanks of Brians along with a beautiful rollerball. A Baron, possibly or a Jr. Gent plated in Black Ti. The acrylic is a subtle shade of grape.

Thanks, Brian! And without further ado from me..................

Great photos Mack. You made the pen and blanks look better then they are in person. I need to get some pointers from you on. Oh the pen is a Baron.

 

[Tieflyer]

As usual, I'm late posting my partners amazing work! Darin, Fordwakeman, made a stunning watch parts pen and also sent some killer blanks to try. Two cast snakeskin, one Sweetgum Balls 'O Death blank and several home stabilized ones. Can't wait to turn this stuff!
Much thanks to my partner and the organizers of the PITH!

 

[Notscottish]

Sent my pen out to Nedge on Monday and received a beautiful pen from him on Tuesday. I will post pictures tonight. It is a beautiful pen with a really cool stand.

 

[alankulwicki7]

My daughter received her package from Sophia (clieb91's daughter) a few days ago. It's an Inertia Click pen with stylus. The pen has an image of her name and a softball bat on it. I'm not sure the process used but it looks really cool!
Sophia also included a really nice plaque with Abby's name and one of her favorite teams on it (the Minnesota Wild) and a couple of nice colorwood blanks.
Great job, Sophia!:biggrin:

 

[Krash]

Whoohoo!

I just got home and had a little surprise waiting for me after work!

Mike Brouillette, aka healeydays, sent me his PITH and to my pleasure (entertainment?), he sent one of his famous honeycomb aluminum pens in Amber, or is it honey? :biggrin:

Sweet pen ... Finely done Mike!

Plus, he sent some other fun things for me to entertain myself with, a couple that look like lufa casts but he'll have to confirm that.

Thanks soooo much Mike!

Yours will get done this weekend. I can't wait for you to see it!

 

[Brian G]

I received my PITH package from Leo S. Long yesterday.



The beautiful pen is Mallee Burl, which he also included as one of the five blanks. The fit of the pen is perfect and nicely finished to let the natural beauty of the wood show.

The other four blanks are Thuya Burl (nice eyes!), olivewood, buckeye burl, and bubinga hiding behind the olivewood.

You'll notice the trout pin that Leo carved, too. It's stunning, and the detail is amazing. He's a Master!

Here are closer pictures of the trout pin:

Front:

Back:

Bottom:

Thank you, Leo, for the spectacular pen, trout pin, and blanks.

 

[mlconnelly]

My Pen From Nicole

I got a text from home late this afternoon that said I had a surprise in the mail. Naturally, I rushed straight home from work to find a package from Nicole (Simsonicole). Inside I found a beautiful rollerball made from the piece of maple that she posted the teaser for a few days ago. They run a musical instrument repair shop in Australia and so she used music for her "entertainment" theme. The pen has some great musical artwork (including my initials) which I assume is a decal covered by a beautiful CA finish. And to top it all off she sent me six beautiful blanks from her native Australia.

Thanks Nicole for the awesome pen and blanks. You may want to add some more to my description.

 

[truckfixr]

My grand daughter received her pen from Austin (son of mike4066) last week. This girl is a true blue Doctor Who fan. When she saw that it was a Dalek pen, her jaw just about hit the floor. Austin my friend, you made her one very happy Whovian Thank you very much. And for the wonderful blanks too.