Hahahahah, I haven't managed to see one of those yet BUT, ain't nothing the Flap disc system and a CA bottle can't make into a pen, believe me...!
:wink:
I've heard of the magical 40 grit (and other grits) skew, the invisible wood rasp/course file, the (never me...!) block of wood/cork with sandpaper attached and many other material removing "utensils" and techniques, try the Flap disc systems and and let us all know how it went or, used it and don't say anything, that way you may not feel embarrassed to admit that you used a 4" grinder to make a pen with...!
What one doesn't know, doesn't hurt, right...???
Don't worry, I will continue to suggest the Flap disc system for "difficult" blanks, until people start to have the courage to say, they are/used it, on the "bad boys...!":wink::biggrin:
Recipe;
Grab 1 or 2 of the inexpensive 4" grinders and some 40, 60, 80, and 120 Flap discs. The red ones are for wood mostly, the blue ones are a "cut all" type disc, a little more expensive but worth while. You will find great bargains on eBay/feeBay/fleebay on these for about $2.50 a disc in packs of 10 minimum.
Make a bracket to hang the 2 machines near the lathe, both plugged at all times. Use a combination of 40 - 80 grits for hard materials and 80 -120 grits for the very soft stuff.
Now that you got that done grab you blank and soak it with think CA, after stopping soaking, spray with accelerator. If the material is flaky and falling to bits, rap with masking tape or painters tape after you soaked it in CA.
Proceed to cut to length and drill, a little oversize hole is a good thing to use epoxy to glue the tube already roughed up with some coarse sandpaper and cleaned.
Trim the ends and to the lathe you go. Do not remove the tape, if was there to hold everything together for the cut and drilling so, leave it alone, the first pass of the coarser grit of the Flap disc will take care of it.
With the lathe a fast speeds, approach the disc to the blank as you do with the gouge/any cutting tool, gently and with the grinder turned a little to its side to follow the cutting angle and surface of the Flap disc. From left to right, right to left , from the center to the edges or from the edges to the center, all is OK, you will find the way you like to use the tool to the best results.
Do the "cutting" with the low grit and then swap to the "shaping" grit (higher grit) to work your curves/shapes, leave it a little rich from the bushing for you normal hand sanding stages...!
From this point on, and unless you do something silly or something goes badly wrong, you all all the chances in the world to finish that blank and put it in a pen kit, seriously...!:wink:
Do not believe me...???
, no "problemo"...! try it and then let me know...!:biggrin: I will put my money where my mouth is...!:wink:
Any questions you may have about this system, just say so...!
Disclaimer:
As unbelievable as it can look, I do not sell grinders nor Flap discs, I have no business association with any manufacturers of these type products, nor I receive any kind of commission for my recommendations/suggestions. I should also say that, to this day, I haven't received either a "thank you" from those making and selling these products, and quite honestly, I'm not expecting that to ever happen either...!
:biggrin:
Good luck
Cheers
George