Another PITH exchange

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BSea

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I'm open for a random PITH. I like some sort of theme, but anything will work.

Hi Bob,
I'd be interested in a PITH; I think a theme would be interesting.
Do you have any suggestions? Color, style, material, etc?

Thanks,
Jesse

Hi Jesse,

Some themes I've seen, or done:

Slimline modification - This is pretty easy. Just modify a slimline somehow. do a custom center band, or a unique cap. The sky is the limit. Here's a past bash contest with pics for ideas: http://www.penturners.org/forum/f170/russ-fairfield-memorial-slimline-contest-92852/

Another is a pen made with FOG wood (FOG= Found On Ground)

A pen made with pine. Any pine will work.

One that I really liked was a Transformation swap, but that might be more than you want to start with. It is where you send materials to your partner to make a pen from.

There are others. You might look at past PITH contest to see themes, and ideas. A PITH usually involves sending a couple of blanks too, but it's not required.

Anything you want to do is fine with me.
 

BSea

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I'm a new member and not sure I fully understand all the rules but I would be interested as well.

Hi Ryan,

Basically, a PITH is a pen trade. We do this at our local meetings. Basically, everyone puts a Pen In The Hat. Then everyone takes turns picking a pen out of the hat. Our last local theme was Christmas. Our next one is this Saturday, and the theme is Valentines Day.

On IAP, the PITH exchanges involve many members who do an organized trade. Obviously, there is no hat, we just make pens then exchange with our partner. Normally you take a picture & post in a reveal thread, but for these small ones, I'd think we post the pictures here.

You can start a new thread & ask for a partner, or if Jesse is ok with it, we can do a 3 way swap. This would be where I might send to you you send to Jesse, and Jesse sends to me.
 

indytruks138

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Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
99
Location
Sachse, TX
I'm a new member and not sure I fully understand all the rules but I would be interested as well.

Hi Ryan,

Basically, a PITH is a pen trade. We do this at our local meetings. Basically, everyone puts a Pen In The Hat. Then everyone takes turns picking a pen out of the hat. Our last local theme was Christmas. Our next one is this Saturday, and the theme is Valentines Day.

On IAP, the PITH exchanges involve many members who do an organized trade. Obviously, there is no hat, we just make pens then exchange with our partner. Normally you take a picture & post in a reveal thread, but for these small ones, I'd think we post the pictures here.

You can start a new thread & ask for a partner, or if Jesse is ok with it, we can do a 3 way swap. This would be where I might send to you you send to Jesse, and Jesse sends to me.

Thanks for all the information Bob. The local exchange with picking pens out of a hat clarifies the name. The details of how it works is pretty close to what I expected. I used to do a lot of trading craft beer and we would do a BIF (beer it forward) which is very similar, get a name to send to, find out their likes and dislikes and try to send them an awesome box. My favorite part is everyone really tried to be the one to send the best box, winning was being the best sender, not getting the best haul. I'm in for the 3-way or doing another random one.
 

JessePens

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Joined
Jan 10, 2019
Messages
116
Location
La Crescent, MN
I'm a new member and not sure I fully understand all the rules but I would be interested as well.

Hi Ryan,

Basically, a PITH is a pen trade. We do this at our local meetings. Basically, everyone puts a Pen In The Hat. Then everyone takes turns picking a pen out of the hat. Our last local theme was Christmas. Our next one is this Saturday, and the theme is Valentines Day.

On IAP, the PITH exchanges involve many members who do an organized trade. Obviously, there is no hat, we just make pens then exchange with our partner. Normally you take a picture & post in a reveal thread, but for these small ones, I'd think we post the pictures here.

You can start a new thread & ask for a partner, or if Jesse is ok with it, we can do a 3 way swap. This would be where I might send to you you send to Jesse, and Jesse sends to me.

Thanks for all the information Bob. The local exchange with picking pens out of a hat clarifies the name. The details of how it works is pretty close to what I expected. I used to do a lot of trading craft beer and we would do a BIF (beer it forward) which is very similar, get a name to send to, find out their likes and dislikes and try to send them an awesome box. My favorite part is everyone really tried to be the one to send the best box, winning was being the best sender, not getting the best haul. I'm in for the 3-way or doing another random one.

We can go ahead and do a 3-way swap: Bob, Jesse, and Ryan

Now we just need to agree on a theme. Bob listed quite a few good suggestions, anything you would prefer Ryan?
 

JessePens

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Location
La Crescent, MN
Bob,
You appear to be the veteran turner among us. Is there a material you don't commonly make for pens (do you normally only do resins/castings?). Just looking for a theme that might challenge you as well since it's almost all new to me.
 

BSea

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Little Rock, Arkansas
Bob,
You appear to be the veteran turner among us. Is there a material you don't commonly make for pens (do you normally only do resins/castings?). Just looking for a theme that might challenge you as well since it's almost all new to me.
I cast blanks to sell, so many of the pens I make are from those casts. But I prefer wooden pens for my personal carry pens. I guess what I'm saying is that I have done about an equal amount of both. I think resin pens are easier to finish, and to turn if that makes any difference.

I do have a suggestion as to the order. Why don't we use birthdays. The earliest birthday in the year sends to the next birthday. Then he sends to the last birthday, and the last sends to the 1st. Mine is Nov 5th.
 

JessePens

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La Crescent, MN
My birthday is December 22, so I'm probably 3rd.

Ok, I have a suggestion for the theme. This would be good experience for me since I haven't modified a kit before.

How about we do this:
*slimline kit only
*use the Russ fat-line modification, link below
*wood only, but can do any selection or segmentation
*center band optional but has to be wood
*ship by February 28
*extra blanks optional but always welcome

Pen51a
 

BSea

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Your pen is done Jesse. I'll try to get it out today, but worst case will be tomorrow. Normally I procrastinate a little, but I'm going to be pretty busy the rest of the month, and didn't want to rush it.

The style is a little challenging. Without bushings, getting the center to meet flush takes some time. I definitely needed my calipers. Plus, I turn between centers, so I didn't have the visual reference using a mandrel would give. Even so, calipers are probably a recommended tool for this style.

EDIT: I didn't have the center bushing described in the fat Line article. That would make it a bit easier.
 
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JessePens

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Your pen is done Jesse. I'll try to get it out today, but worst case will be tomorrow. Normally I procrastinate a little, but I'm going to be pretty busy the rest of the month, and didn't want to rush it.

The style is a little challenging. Without bushings, getting the center to meet flush takes some time. I definitely needed my calipers. Plus, I turn between centers, so I didn't have the visual reference using a mandrel would give. Even so, calipers are probably a recommended tool for this style.

EDIT: I didn't have the center bushing described in the fat Line article. That would make it a bit easier.

Wow, that was fast Bob!
I can imagine the matchup will be difficult. I plan to use his technique of doing the final sanding without a center bushing.
I'm hoping to get to my pen this weekend.
 

indytruks138

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Bob is all over this PITH. Already finished, I'm impressed. I'm hoping to get your pen turned next week Bob. Things are a little crazy right now at work and I'm finishing up a dining room table for a client, so hobby/fun time is short this week.
 

BSea

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Little Rock, Arkansas
Chuck. I'd be interested in a swap. Let's talk and figure out the details.

I am open to doing a PITH also, if anyone is interested.

Joe

Hey guys, It's fine if you want to use this thread, but it might be better to start a new thread in this forum. I think it would be easier for interested people to see your request in a new thread. I should have named the Thread "Another RANDOM PITH Exchange to make it clearer.

See This earlier thread: http://www.penturners.org/forum/f433/pith-exchange-158572/
 
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BSea

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Bob is all over this PITH. Already finished, I'm impressed. I'm hoping to get your pen turned next week Bob. Things are a little crazy right now at work and I'm finishing up a dining room table for a client, so hobby/fun time is short this week.

Don't know how I missed this.

I think the ship date is more of a suggested date rather than a hard date. so if you need a few extra days, or even a week, that's fine with me.
 

JessePens

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Here are pictures of the beautiful pen I received from Bob. It's made from lignum vitae, a wood I have never experienced before. I can't believe how smooth it is due to being such a dense wood.
He also provided some neat blanks that I'm eager to turn into art.
Thanks Bob for the great experience in my first PITH.


View in Gallery


View in Gallery
 

indytruks138

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Sachse, TX
I got an awesome box today from JessePens. The pen is beautiful and could have been in the pretty wood contest. So much spalting!
The blanks are great, the birch is going to be beautiful and I'm excited to turn the corian, that will be a new one to me. Thanks Jesse!
 

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BSea

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My Pen arrived today, and I had to look twice to believe what I got. The pen is almost an exact twin to what I sent Jesse. :eek:

1_Pen___blanks_from_Ryan.jpg


1_Pen_from_Ryan.jpg


I don't know the species for sure, but I'm pretty sure it isn't Lignum Vitae. The sap wood looks different. I'm guessing a rosewood.

Thanks Ryan!
 
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BSea

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That was crazy. I don't think I've ever seen a trade like that.

In addition to the pen, the blanks Ryan sent are (from top to bottom) stabilized spalted ambrosia maple, bog oak (a 1st for me), honey locust, and a spectraply blank.


Well, this wraps up my 1st Random PITH. Very fun! I'll be doing more of these.

Thanks guys!
 
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