Spalted Black Gum - Custom FP - How

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LL Woodworks

LL Woodworks

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Hey custom pen makers - I have this beautiful piece of spalted Black gum and want to make a custom FP. Problem is it is only 5" long:mad: Any ideas? I've toyed with the thought about making the cap form this blank (with inserts) and and the barrel from a complementing PR, like black, silver, tan or bone:confused:

Whats the opinions on two toned pens ? Thanks for the help, this is to good of a piece to mess up.
 

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I agree it is an awesome piece of gum!
5" is long enough to make a FP - there are several compnent sets that will accomplish that. I made a statesman closed-end the other day with a 5" blank.
 
LL Woodworks said:
Hey custom pen makers - I have this beautiful piece of spalted Black gum and want to make a custom FP. Problem is it is only 5" long:mad: Any ideas? I've toyed with the thought about making the cap form this blank (with inserts) and and the barrel from a complementing PR, like black, silver, tan or bone:confused:

Whats the opinions on two toned pens ? Thanks for the help, this is to good of a piece to mess up.
Click to expand...

Oh, that's a nice piece of wood. I think I'd want the wood throughout the pen if I could. I'd be tempted to try to stretch it with black plastic (PR for me, but whatever). Do a black section, black centerband, black finial.
 
Are you talking about a custom as in no kit? I would use that for the body and make the cap a solid compimenting color instead of the other way around.
I know Shawn (watch_art) has done several using inserts for the threaded pieces. You might talk to him...
 
Since you're asking for opinions, I've always thought woods like that always looked good with black.

If you made all your own components, i.e. finial, centerband, grip, and barrel end finial (don't know what else to call it) in black, you might use up enough length that you could get a cap and barrel out of that 5" blank.

Mike
 
Thanks guys - you confirmed my thoughts. Yes this is a custom from scratch concept. Mike I've been studying your Celobast & aluminum pen and thinking as you suggested that if enough parts are made from either aluminum or black PR I will have enough blank.

I to initially thought black PR, but this blank has enough gray that aluminum may work as well for the CB and finials. Opinions - black PR or Alum against this spalted piece?
 
LL Woodworks said:
Thanks guys - you confirmed my thoughts. Yes this is a custom from scratch concept. Mike I've been studying your Celobast & aluminum pen and thinking as you suggested that if enough parts are made from either aluminum or black PR I will have enough blank.

I to initially thought black PR, but this blank has enough gray that aluminum may work as well for the CB and finials. Opinions - black PR or Alum against this spalted piece?
Click to expand...

Whichever you choose, be careful with the sanding dust on that light wood.
 
Actually, I'd use black alumilite because threadingis so much easier. Or possibly black ebonite. Because the connecting pieces will be threaded (or most of them will), PR isn't the best choice IMHO, but it should still work fine.
 
BSea said:
Actually, I'd use black alumilite because threadingis so much easier. Or possibly black ebonite. Because the connecting pieces will be threaded (or most of them will), PR isn't the best choice IMHO, but it should still work fine.
Click to expand...

I have to agree....only managed a few successful threads on PR. I should have said black Acrylic, that threads really well.
 
I wouldn't use PR for inserts either - but I'd go with acrylic over alumilite or ebonite just b/c I think the different epoxies will bond to it better. My small experience with alumilite and epoxy gave bad results, but everything with plain old acrylic has been great.

My experience is my own though, and to be perfectly honest quite limited.
:)

You saw what I did with one piece of trustone...
http://www.penturners.org/forum/f56/trustone-make-99289/
 
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