1st post, 2nd pen

[woodchick]

Hi Folks,
Been turning for a few months now and thought I'd give pens a try. Seeing all of your work here has really been a help. Thought I would share my second pen, as I think it turned out very well. Euro kit, blank cut from a Banksia pod, sliced crossways for the top portion and lengthwise for the bottom. Eyes filled with black epoxy. CA/BLO finish, micromesh and buffed. Same pen, 2 pix.

Critiques appreciated.
Thanks for looking,
Maria

 

[Woodlvr]

Great Job. That is a beautiful pen. Keep up the good work.

 

[devowoodworking]

That's only your second pen? Outstanding work, very nice indeed!!

 

[rherrell]

Far out! Gotta love them pods!

 

[hunter-27]

I think my 2nd pen blew up [B)] and 3rd and 4th.............

Great job, nice epoxy fill,nice finish.

Out of curiousity why did you slice part lenghtwise ad cross cut the other?

 

[stevebuk]

maria thats a great looking pen, and for only your second its a cracker. If you do one again i hope you photo it and make a tutorial of it.

 

[papaturner]

Great job......Love the blank. BTW welcome aboard.

 

[woodchick]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Hunter-27, you'll notice I didn't mention pens 1 & 3...[B)]. RIght now I rely too much on the 100-grit gouge. I switched up the orientation because I liked the pattern you get across the core (looks almost like a flower) and apart from the fact that it only fit the short tube, I still think it was a distinct enough pattern that the lower barrel should be different. Since the pods have no obvious grain orientation apart from the oval eyes, I thought it worth a try. It might be better if the lower blank was more central so the eyes were smaller, or fewer. May have to try that next time.
Stevebuk, I think my tutorial might be a lesson in how NOT to do it Every time I had it epoxied, I'd turn a bit more and lo and behold, a new hole with shiny brass winking through. Next time I'll get it 99% turned before filling any gaps. I highly recommend Banksia nuts, but you definitely need face and lung protection!

 

[PaulDoug]

very nice job. i've got to try some of those,

 

[great12b4ever]

I like that pen very much. Now I have another project to make! Also welcome to the addiction.

 

[ahoiberg]

good job. that flower pattern is very cool on the top barrel. keep it up!

 

[jhs494]

Very nice work. That is an awesome looking blank and it turned out great.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[stevers]

Nice job, good shape, nice finish. Great second effort. Hope to see more from you.

 

[toolcrazy]

Very cool, nice work.

 

[JohnU]

That turned out fantastic! Gonna have to try one of those pods.
Keep up the good work.

 

[VisExp]

That's a nice looking pen, far better than my second pen. Well done and welcome to the IAP

 

[Ozzy]

Beautiful pen and welcome.

 

[broitblat]

Very ambitious for a second pen; Outstanding regardless of how many you've done before

-Barry

 

[clthayer]

WOW, I like that. Welcome to IAP.

 

[ronhampton]

nice work also welcome,btw

 

[grumps]

I'm not a big fan of the Euro pen so believe me when I say that is the best one that I've ever seen. That's the second pen you've ever done - I'm anxious to see the next ones! Great job.

 

[Dalecamino]

Great job all around Maria !

 

[arjudy]

Beautiful work. I agree with Keith, that I wish my second pen would have looked that good.

 

[Buzz]

Excellent work. Banksia pods make nice pens. I hate turning them for anything else though, lots of shrapnel, dust and fine fluff-like particles that make you itch. I made a batch of bud vases once, but never again. I get someone else to do them now for our shop.

 

[woodchick]

I know what you mean! Last time I worked with banksia, I carved a small bowl using an arbortech mini. Talk about shrapnel! This time, the bandsaw was my friend for some serious trimming. Thanks to all for the welcome and comments. This is a great forum.

 

[Ligget]

Beautiful pen Maria, wish my second pen looked as good as that![]