Olive Wood - what kit???

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Steve Hudson

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Location
Mooresville , NC
I am going on a mission trip and plan to make pens for everyone going on the trip. I have ordered Olive wood blanks for the pens, as I feel like there will be a religious connection for everyone going on the trip. The blanks have stickers and certificates of authenticity and I thought it may be a way for everyone to connect with their Christian heritage. Due to cost I am planning to use a 7mm Slimline type kit as I will be making 30-40 pens. My questions are: Would you use Slimline kits or would you suggest a different type of kit? What finish/color on the pen kit would you suggest that would go well with or compliment the Olive wood colors, grains? Where would you suggest I purchase the kits from? Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Steve
 
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Olivewood takes a nice polish on it's own. I often use pens plus finish on it also. Ca works too but not my first choice here.

you could go for something a little thicker like the Trimline / streamline. The Saturn from woodturningz might be priced well also.

If it was me I'd think about finding a lower list single tube pen - more meat and half the tubes to turn. The executive in chrome is quite cost effective as well as a basic Sierra style.
 
I recently made a gold slimline with a comfort band and a gold cross clip for the pastor of my parent's church. The gold and olivewood worked very well together and the Pastor loved it. While very simple, it was one of the prettiest pens that I have made. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of it.
 
My advice.. call one of the many vendors that sell on here. They can talk to you, give you recommendations, and with that kind of quantity I would be surprised if they didn't give you a deal. I know when I needed 15 I got a deal from Beartooth Woods (they are close to me) and I am sure that others are the same.
 
I've never been but friends of mine have and they picked up wood there and wanted me to make their pens out of that. I took a picture they took on the trip and cast it on a slimline and finished the pen out with their olive wood on a gold kit. Everyone was very pleased with a souvenir from the trip with a deeper background. I guess if they wanted a COA they could write one out on their own. Ha Ha.
 
I make BOW slimlines for all the new members who join our church - we handed out 13 this past Sunday. They are a big hit.

I use 24K parts, but I buy all the components in bulk rather than kits. I use this clip with a fancy gold CB for the ladies' pens
Buy Cross Clip for 7 mm Pens Gold at Woodcraft.com

and this one with a gold comfort CB for the men's pens
Slimline Clip - Cross 24kt Gold - WoodTurningz

Then I buy these pen boxes from Woodcraft in lots of 10 to get a 10% discount & put the pen & COA in the box when we hand them out.
Buy Blue Velvet Gold Trim w/Blue Velvet Interior at Woodcraft.com

My total cost for blanks, box & components runs $8-$10 each.

Check around at the web sites for our various IAP vendors & you should be able to find all the component parts without much trouble & sometimes you can even find them on sale.

Edgar
 
Regarding finish - I simply sand olive wood to 600, burnish with some shavings, then one coat of sanding sealer & one coat of friction polish.

It's such a nice, tight grained wood, that I can usually start sanding with 320 or 400 grit, so sanding & finishing goes really quick.
 
It's probably out of the price range, but you might could get donations to help offset the costs - The Jr. Gent II in Chrome looks great wrapped in Olive Wood. It's beefy enough to really show off the figured wood and turns really easily and quickly. As an alternative, a Gatsby or one of those styles also works really well with Olive Wood.

Personally, I think that gold clashes a little too much with the Olive Wood's color, but chrome, gunmetal, or black titanium contrasts very nicely. Smitty's six-pack special would be great for this project - great kit at a great price.
 

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I prefer gun metal, black ti or chrome with BOW. You should definitely check out some of Smitty's special deals going on now. You can get some nice single barrel pen kits that will look great.
 
Olive wood is wonderful to work, and beautiful in the finish. Why would you want to put it on a $2.50 kit where the plating would wear off quickly? I agree with the idea of putting it on a single barrel kit like the Gatsby et. al. Of course, you can also make two-barrel pens, but I think these would work fine for your purpose. Do it right. You are making heirlooms, after all. Russ
 
Karl_99 said:
I prefer gun metal, black ti or chrome with BOW. You should definitely check out some of Smitty's special deals going on now. You can get some nice single barrel pen kits that will look great.
Click to expand...

Gun metal is the choice of pastors that order from me.
 
Olivewood

I would like to suggest PSI's Faith, Hope and Love pen. Unfortunately it is quite pricey. It comes with Antique Pewter, Antique Brass and Antique Copper and Gold. I just did one with Antique Pewter that I think is beautiful. I think the Antique Brass would be nice too.
 
I have made several FHL pens and will make one tomorrow this weekend. If you do make one, make sure you are very careful and follow the instructions and protect the threads while assembling. I like the kit, but I think it is overpriced.
 
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