Pen 150 Atrax Chrome FP with Brooks Blue and a little curve

[EarlD]

I know a lot of people like a little curve on their pens and all I've done lately have been mostly straight or almost straight tapered. I thought I'd leave a little curve on this one so we could all see what the Atrax looks like that way. The kit is the chrome fountain pen from Exotic Blanks. The blank was picked up at the Sept 2011 Atlanta chapter meeting and was created by Jonathon Brooks (surprise! ).

Reverse painted black and polished out with the Beall buffing wheels.

Questions? Suggestions?

Earl

 

[D.Oliver]

Remind me to never post any work just before or after you. WOW.

 

[1080Wayne]

And a YES to the curve . Perfect

 

[Drstrangefart]

VERY subtle touch, but it brings a lot of personality out in the kit and the blank.

 

[boxerman]

That one really looks nice the way you done it.

 

[Jim15]

That is one awesome pen.

 

[SDB777]

Love the coloring in the blank!!



Was wondering how far into the grits you sand with before getting the blanks on the 'wheel'?








Scott (nice-n-shiney) B

 

[hilltopper46]

Earl, you are really making these Atrax pens with Brooks blanks look good. What a beautiful series of pens!

 

[76winger]

That's a beauty for sure. I think the smooth simple lines on that pen model allows the Brooks blank to really BURST to make a really nice looking pen.

 

[EarlD]

Love the coloring in the blank!!

Was wondering how far into the grits you sand with before getting the blanks on the 'wheel'?

Scott (nice-n-shiney) B

Scott, I've been turning to within about 2 thousandths on a little metal lathe. Stopped at about 15 thousandths from the bushings if I remember on this one. Then I used 400 grit hook & loop sandpaper on a piece of plywood to round off the ends on this one. From I generally use mm 1800 to 3600 to get all the sanding groves out. It's about half and half between sanding with the lathe on and sanding side-to-side with the lathe off. Check it with a magnifying glass for scratches or irregularities. Then I use the Beall bowl buffer with White Diamond mounted in a drill on the blank with the blank spinning on the lathe. Just a few seconds and the shine just pops up. I then dismount it and use the White Diamond on the buffing wheel mounted on the lathe to just take the edges off the end of the turning. Hit it a few seconds with the Beall wax on another wheel and it's done.

I find this much faster and better than going all the way through the mm to 12000.

Earl (guess I'm lazy) D

 

[Brooks803]

Earl that one is awesome! I had totally forgotten about that blank until now. I only did that 1 but I think I'll have to revist that line of thinking. It turned out 100x better than I'd thought it would. I love the black reverse painting! Sorry you couldn't make it to the meeting today. You would have enjoyed it for sure. Have a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year my friend.

 

[DaveT]

That is very nice. Great pictures too!

 

[sumterdad]

That is a awaome pen. My kits just came in can't wait to turn my first fountain pen

 

[rizaydog]

Very nice pen. The colors are great.

 

[jeff]

Looks nice on the front page, Earl :biggrin:

 

[wiset1]

CONGRATS on the front page!!!! So I've got to ask...what's the secret to getting on that front page???

 

[EarlD]

Looks nice on the front page, Earl :biggrin:

WOW! Thanks. What an honor.

EarlD

 

[EarlD]

CONGRATS on the front page!!!! So I've got to ask...what's the secret to getting on that front page???

Well, obviously...Jonathon Brooks blanks!

Earl

 

[EarlD]

Thanks

Here's a big thanks to Jonathon Brooks for casting such beautiful blanks!

Earl

 

[U-Turn]

Earl - that's outstanding. Great combination!!

 

[jeff]

CONGRATS on the front page!!!! So I've got to ask...what's the secret to getting on that front page???

You mean what's my process for choosing front page pens? That's top secret!

However, tips are, in no particular order and not all required...

(why this one is there)

Some interesting aspect of the pen (this is a new kit, gorgeous blank)
Well made, whatever it is (looks flawless)
Well-composed, excellent photo (beautiful photo, good aspect ratio)
Good description of the piece (right there with the first post)
Not had a pic on the front page in "a while" (Earl's first trip to the front page)
Don't ask to have your pen featured (Earl didn't)

 

[boxerman]

Congrats Earl on the front page.

 

[Brooks803]

Here's a big thanks to Jonathon Brooks for casting such beautiful blanks!

Earl

Congrats Earl!!!!! :handshake:

You really did an amazing job with every aspect of this pen. Happy to have helped. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

 

[butchf18a]

Universal Pen Code, Pen turning specifications and design standards, 2011 edition clearly establishes that shape code requirements for that pen are straight, non-tapered or bulged. Anyone not in compliance with the straight barrel design criteria should be restricted to either selling the pen at a loss or restricted from selling the pen at all since it diminishes the efforts of serious turners working withing the established parameters. Continued disregard for the standards ought to subject the turner to suspension of turning priveleges for a minimum of 6 months.



Oh yeah, before the furor rises to intolerable levels....I'm pulling your chain. who cares how it is turned as long as the turner likes it, the buyer likes it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

jmoicbw-bidi

 

[wizard]

Congratulations!!

Earl, Beautiful Pen!!! Very soothing look to it.. Congratulations on the front page!!:biggrin: You deserve it!! Regards, Doc

 

[hewunch]

Earl, it looks great on the front page. I wish I could have seen it in person on Saturday. Might have made my 2 hours near the mall of GA worth while. And no, I was not shopping, I just had the audacity to attempt to drive by it on I-85.

 

[Dalecamino]

I agree with everybody else Earl. Nice work and, congratulations.

 

[EarlD]

Earl, it looks great on the front page. I wish I could have seen it in person on Saturday. Might have made my 2 hours near the mall of GA worth while. And no, I was not shopping, I just had the audacity to attempt to drive by it on I-85.

And traffic this time of year is why I wasn't there to show it off. I'll be sure to bring it to the next meeting if I still have it.

 

[MarkD]

Earl,
A well deserved congratulations for making the front page!
You nailed each of Jeff's requirements and this pen is very deserving of the front page!

 

[cnirenberg]

Earl,
Fantastic looking pen. I'm glad Jeff chose this pen for the front page. Honestly, I don't often get the time to go through all the posts, I would have missed this beauty. Great job on the pen.

 

[Knucklefish]

Wow!

Earl, Great pen and photos are fantastic too! Well deserved on the front page.

 

[Jim15]

Beautiful pen. It sure deserves to be on the front page. Congratulations Earl.

 

[PR_Princess]

Congratulations on the front page Earl!!

Very well deserved!!!:biggrin: