Need some advice!

[65GTMustang]

I need to make a very special graduation pen using the Apollo style pen from PSI.
I have turned a few of these so I am good with the pens design itself. The question I have is concerning the large black rounded finial on the pen. This is a simple male screw in cap finial for the clip. I would like to replace the black round with a Turquoise Cabochon. I have a couple of thoughts on how to execute the embellishment. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on the best way to do this.
My current thoughts are this;

• Keep the original black finial part – sand the dome of the piece flat and glue the Turquoise Cab to the top. This would give a slim black line from the body of the pen to the cab which might be a nice consistent look?
• The pen will be turned from grey Buckeye Burl – I could turn the top barrel with a closed end mandrel. Then match the top of the cap with the Turquoise Cab and simple glue it on.
• Keep the pen just as it is meant to be turned – Eliminate the black finial all together and replace it with the Turquoise cab. Either a flat face glue up – or look into have the cab drilled and tapped to accept a male thread which would basically be a way of keeping the design and construction / I would just be changing the cap?
• Or a combination of all of then above…LOL

I would really appreciate your input.
Here's an after thought – Rather then using turquoise to make a finial cap I could simple turn a matching Buckeye Burl cap – That would be much easier and perhaps look a lot better. The whole objective is to loose the big Round Black Cap – They don't like the look of it…I guess I should have made that point earlier…
The reason for thinking about a Turquoise cab is to match the laser engraving inlay.
After having the name engraved I will be inlaying Turquoise powder to highlight the name.
Thanks for your time – I hope to here lot's suggestions.
Kevin

 

[Mack C.]

I need to make a very special graduation pen using the Apollo style pen from PSI.
I have turned a few of these so I am good with the pens design itself. The question I have is concerning the large black rounded finial on the pen. This is a simple male screw in cap finial for the clip. I would like to replace the black round with a Turquoise Cabochon. I have a couple of thoughts on how to execute the embellishment. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on the best way to do this.

My current thoughts are this;

• Keep the original black finial part – sand the dome of the piece flat and glue the Turquoise Cab to the top. This would give a slim black line from the body of the pen to the cab which might be a nice consistent look?
• The pen will be turned from grey Buckeye Burl – I could turn the top barrel with a closed end mandrel. Then match the top of the cap with the Turquoise Cab and simple glue it on.
• Keep the pen just as it is meant to be turned – Eliminate the black finial all together and replace it with the Turquoise cab. Either a flat face glue up – or look into have the cab drilled and tapped to accept a male thread which would basically be a way of keeping the design and construction / I would just be changing the cap?
• Or a combination of all of then above…LOL

I would really appreciate your input.

Here's an after thought – Rather then using turquoise to make a finial cap I could simple turn a matching Buckeye Burl cap – That would be much easier and perhaps look a lot better. The whole objective is to loose the big Round Black Cap – They don't like the look of it…I guess I should have made that point earlier…

The reason for thinking about a Turquoise cab is to match the laser engraving inlay.
After having the name engraved I will be inlaying Turquoise powder to highlight the name.
Thanks for your time – I hope to here lot's suggestions.
Kevin

I go with your afterthought and the matching Buckeye Burl Cap.

 

[Whaler]

My first thought would be to use a different kit. My choice would be a Baron or Rineheart, knock out the finial and turn one from the pen material.
You could also make a clipless closed end cap.
Since the Apollo has a screw on finial simply turn one from the pen material, drill a hole to fit over the coupler stud and glue it on.

 

[workinforwood]

I could be wrong, but turquoise and buckeye do not sound like they would go together that well. I think one of those graduation blanks Dawn has, in a simple white and gold background with black hardware is all you really need..yea, blatant self promotion, but I know that would look good, and be less work. The image on those is pretty big, so you'd need to turn the apollo larger than just B2B, but not that much larger...I see lots of guys make it fit and still look normal.

 

[PenMan1]

At one point, the Apollo had the same threads as a flat top. BUT, both the Apollo and the flattop have changed

If the top of the flat top still scews into the Apollo, it would be simple to glue the turquoise onto the flat top stud.

Another option would be to remove the round black fenial and use that stud for the stone.

 

[Mack C.]

At one point, the Apollo had the same threads as a flat top. BUT, both the Apollo and the flattop have changed

If the top of the flat top still scews into the Apollo, it would be simple to glue the turquoise onto the flat top stud.

Another option would be to remove the round black fenial and use that stud for the stone.

Or CS USA sells cap studs!

 

[65GTMustang]

Those are all good thoughts
Another question which Jeff brought up - What is the thought of a Grey/Black Buckeye Burl and Turquoise combination?
The Buckeye Burl I will use will not be Brown and Black coloring - It will be more of a solid soft grey?
Is that still a color mismatch?

 

[65GTMustang]

I guess the question really comes down to - Would a grey colored burl and Turquoise match? It does not have to be Buckeye - It could be a dyed Boxeleder?

 

[Smitty37]

The eye of the beholder....

I guess the question really comes down to - Would a grey colored burl and Turquoise match? It does not have to be Buckeye - It could be a dyed Boxeleder?

Ask yourself this - would you wear a turquoise tie with a grey shirt? I would. So I think they'd be OK together. Same thing with a more browinsh burl----would you wear a turquoise tie with a brown shirt? I don't think I would....I'd need to see them together try a test piece.

 

[PenMan1]

At one point, the Apollo had the same threads as a flat top. BUT, both the Apollo and the flattop have changed

If the top of the flat top still scews into the Apollo, it would be simple to glue the turquoise onto the flat top stud.

Another option would be to remove the round black fenial and use that stud for the stone.

Or CS USA sells cap studs!

Mack:
The only studs I have found at CUSA are for Europeans.
If they have others that I am just not finding, I would sure appreciate a link.
Thanks!

 

[workinforwood]

Smitty would wear the turquoise tie...me, I'd go black on grey. But..different strokes for different folks..doesn't make one right over the other. It's only my opinion that the turquoise is way too bright and would be distracting.