workinforwood
Member
Pop cans look great sandwiching things like credit cards. I decided to try brickwork with popcan mortar. Maybe it's been done before, who knows. I cut open the pop cans and sanded both sides. I sliced them into 1/2" strips and sandwiched them between 1/2 square strips of hardwood, in my case lapacho. After drying, I sanded them flat in the drum sander, cut another wider 1" strip and sandwiched it between, so I now have basically 1" square block by however long, in my case about 32" long. I sliced it up on the chop saw into 1/8 slices. Cut up more popcans to put between the slices. The slices are alternated during assembly for the brick effect. My first attempt, lazy I guess, I used CA glue and just hand pressed pieces. The end result was a junky blank, like the tower of Piza. I drilled it anyhow to see how it drilled, it's a tough drill, but do-able. Tossed it on and turned it and it exploded at the ends. Back to the drawing board. I added 1/8 slices to be the ends of each blank with no popcans in it for strength to the project. One blank, the solid piece is an extra 3/16 thick because the kit being used is a rollerball screwtop with a 3/16 mortise for the cap. Built a jig with a slot down the bottom for the turned pieces to fit down into. Mixed up epoxy this time because it dries slower so I can have some working time. Wax paper line the jig...glue and place each piece in jig. Each barrel has a small piece of wax paper inbetween too, so they don't accidently become glued together. My jig holds enough for 3 blanks, and that is plenty enough to do at one time. Slowly it is clamped together and everything pushed down and aligned at the same time until it's all good and tight together. Allow at least a few days dry time before drilling. I made myself enough for 3 pens.
Had a small problem turning the first one, which is still on the lathe with the finish drying. I turned it gently and the barrels are perfect, but the can lines aren't perfectly straight. So on the next one, I need to pay more attention on drilling. My drilling job wasn't square enough to the horizontal lines is all. I'll post a pic of the finished pen when the finish is dry enough to sand and buff. It'll still sell. The next one will be even better as I cover my bases.
Had a small problem turning the first one, which is still on the lathe with the finish drying. I turned it gently and the barrels are perfect, but the can lines aren't perfectly straight. So on the next one, I need to pay more attention on drilling. My drilling job wasn't square enough to the horizontal lines is all. I'll post a pic of the finished pen when the finish is dry enough to sand and buff. It'll still sell. The next one will be even better as I cover my bases.