edicehouse
Member
Pen Blank: Sea Shell Pen blank
Vender: N/A
Cost: .....
I got this blank off an auction of Facebook. I notice a couple venders sell them.
The good: When I got these 2 blanks I was excited to turn it, and decided a Rhodium Cigar pen. My favorite pen is probably a Cigar. It was a very cool looking blank with lots of shells. The resin penetrated and bonded to the shells very well.
The bad: The first thing, when I cut the blank on the band saw, there were sparks, so that told me right away this blank was going to be tough turning.
I noticed a lot of voids due to the voids in the shells. The resin was bonded to the shells well, so it is not a case of "air bubbles".
It was rough on my carbide tip. The shells dulled the tip very quickly.
Turning the shells stinks, literally, it smelt about the same as turning antler.
Any questions please let me know.
I would not recommend these blanks, because of the cost, the wearing out of different tools, and the voids that need to be filled with CA. This is far from a beginner blank to try and turn. I did slow, light cuts at high speed. Don't get me wrong I have seen pictures of finished pens, but the risk vs reward (IMO) is not not worth it.
*This is not an advertisement for any vender or blank. The above are my personal opinions, where I got the blank, and the cost. If any feel I am bashing or talking to negative, please understand what I am trying to do is offer a true opinion. My photos are not the greatest, and the pre-turned blank was taken from a web site.
Vender: N/A
Cost: .....
I got this blank off an auction of Facebook. I notice a couple venders sell them.
The good: When I got these 2 blanks I was excited to turn it, and decided a Rhodium Cigar pen. My favorite pen is probably a Cigar. It was a very cool looking blank with lots of shells. The resin penetrated and bonded to the shells very well.
The bad: The first thing, when I cut the blank on the band saw, there were sparks, so that told me right away this blank was going to be tough turning.
I noticed a lot of voids due to the voids in the shells. The resin was bonded to the shells well, so it is not a case of "air bubbles".
It was rough on my carbide tip. The shells dulled the tip very quickly.
Turning the shells stinks, literally, it smelt about the same as turning antler.
Any questions please let me know.
I would not recommend these blanks, because of the cost, the wearing out of different tools, and the voids that need to be filled with CA. This is far from a beginner blank to try and turn. I did slow, light cuts at high speed. Don't get me wrong I have seen pictures of finished pens, but the risk vs reward (IMO) is not not worth it.
*This is not an advertisement for any vender or blank. The above are my personal opinions, where I got the blank, and the cost. If any feel I am bashing or talking to negative, please understand what I am trying to do is offer a true opinion. My photos are not the greatest, and the pre-turned blank was taken from a web site.