Tree Hugger
- Thread starter BRobbins629
- Start date
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I think it is great Bruce!!!:biggrin:
But please don't tell us how he is 'attached' to the tree:wink:
But please don't tell us how he is 'attached' to the tree:wink:
Unlike some of yours, there were no nuts used in this pen.:wink:I think it is great Bruce!!!:biggrin:
But please don't tell us how he is 'attached' to the tree:wink:
Texatdurango
Member
Sorry Bruce but I just gotta ask... I see two hands NOT touching the tree, just how is he hanging on?
Be prepared to be asked this when you show the pen around!
Nice looking pen!
Be prepared to be asked this when you show the pen around!
Nice looking pen!
With his teeth! (2 pins soldered to head)Sorry Bruce but I just gotta ask... I see two hands NOT touching the tree, just how is he hanging on?
Be prepared to be asked this when you show the pen around!
Nice looking pen!
akbar24601
Member
Bruce, that is AWESOME!!! Great job!
thewishman
Member
That's a right winning pen clip! Nice work! Was the class fun?
Verne
Member
Me thinks I gotta have sum of dem!
Vern
Vern
Texatdurango
Member
Gotcha, you are having way too much fun in those silver classes. What's with the black areas, is that something you just rubbed in to accentuate the details?
OKLAHOMAN
Member
You sure he's hugging???????????????????
The black areas are created by dipping the piece in warm liver of sulfur - a common technique for working with silver. Actually when you do, everything turns black, but you buff or tumble off the high spots to get them to shine again and the recesses stay dark. Look at some detailed silver jewelry and you'll see plenty of that. And fun - heck yes and also saves in the long run. There's less than $5 worth of pure silver in the clip and the tap and die works well for a custom coupling. A $4 nib and if you don't count the thousands I've spent on tools and classes I'm way ahead of the game.
Feel free to substitute the gg for 2 letters of your choice.You sure he's hugging???????????????????
Beautiful work, Bruce...although he does look like a member of the knothole gang.
1JaredSchmidt
Member
That figure in that wood is awesome! Great job!
toolcrazy
Member
Very cool.
Freethinker
Member
Maaaaaaan..........this pen may be the most amazing one I've seen yet, of the countless pens I've seen pictured on this site.
Your work is always superb, but this one is truly jaw dropping.
All jokes about possible methods of "attachment" aside, this is a truly inspired effort.
Your work is always superb, but this one is truly jaw dropping.
All jokes about possible methods of "attachment" aside, this is a truly inspired effort.
johncrane
Member
Great job looks awesome Bruce!:biggrin:
VisExp
Member
That looks very cool Bruce. I've often wondered what causes the black coloring you see on pieces of silver jewelry.
Its a vent hole - I swear it:devil: Don't all fountain pens need one he asks the nib master?Beautiful work, Bruce...although he does look like a member of the knothole gang.
mywoodshopca
Member
Lets hope there wasnt a squirell living in that hole he is holding on with wanting more nuts for winter.....
bitshird
Member
As usual you've done a masterful job, Love the clip and the wood is outrageous.
BullDurham
Member
That is GREAT Bruce. Do you make any to sell, I would love few of them, to give to tree hugging friends of mine!
Thanks Mike - Most of my pens these days are one of a kind. I do sell a few, but for the price I would have to charge, you're probably better off learning how to do them. Its not difficult, just a time consuming. If you like doing this type of work, there's a class close to you at the Visual Arts Center in Richmond.
dalemcginnis
Local Chapter Leader
Great, that's how I got into this mess in the first place. Saw a pen made by a guy that doesn't sell his pens and now you show that clip and say make it yourself.
Bruce, doing the 'lost wax' method, is there any shrinkage like PMC? If you make things like that regularly, will you be able to get your own hallmark?
Cheers
Also wanted to ask....
You said that 'there is less than $5 worth of pure silver in the clip' Does this mean that the whole clip is pure silver and it only cost $5 or is there other material mixed with it? Like less-pure silver?
Cheers
Also wanted to ask....
You said that 'there is less than $5 worth of pure silver in the clip' Does this mean that the whole clip is pure silver and it only cost $5 or is there other material mixed with it? Like less-pure silver?
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Some say that there is a little shrinkage with lost wax but not nearly the way PMC does. Unlike PMC where you are burning away a binder. the lost wax process involves making a plaster-like mold from the wax, burning out the wax and filling the cavity with silver or other metal of your choice. Never thought about the hallmark - hmmmm.
This clip is solid sterling silver which is 92.5% pure. I mentioned that to differentiate from the plated sterling in some kits. The clip weighs less than half an ounce and at the current market rate of silver it calculates to about $5 worth. You can buy purer silver as well as some other grades, but I think most casters prefer sterling.
workinforwood
Member
Obviously that tree hugger is English. It's pretty cool for sure. You are really taking to the wax casting.