Beach Pen

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TDahl

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Joined
Dec 11, 2019
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Brentwood
I wanted to make something special for my wife for her birthday. Since her favorite place to spend time is the beach, I decided to create a pen with some kind of elements from the seashore. I collected some sand from her favorite beach and a piece of driftwood that washed up on the shore. I used the Virage chrome rollerball kit from Berea Hardwoods for the pen. In creating the cap of the pen, I coated the tube with two part epoxy and then rolled it in the sand. I then wrapped it in foil coated with more sand and let the epoxy cure for 48 hours. I removed the tube from the foil and cast it in clear Alumilite resin.

For the barrel I used the driftwood which I stabilized in Cactus Juice that I colored with Alumilite blue dye. The driftwood blank initially came out a dark navy blue but quickly turned to light blueish grey when I began turning it. Even though the driftwood was stabilized some parts of the blank were still fairly soft and chipped off. I used some of the saw dust and medium CA to fill in any of the chips and reinforce the soft areas. I used a skew to finish turning the driftwood then sanded it horizontally to 3000 grit. I applied a coat of Boiled Linseed Oil which really brought out the aqua blue color of the dyed wood. I then applied 4 coats of medium CA and then 5 coats of thin CA and let the coats of CA cure overnight.

I finished both the cap and barrel with MM, One Step polish and then polished both with an acrylic pen buffing system.

IMG_3515.jpgIMG_3513.jpgIMG_3514.jpgIMG_3520.jpgIMG_3522.jpgLet me know what you think.
 
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Very nice looking pen and the sentiment will be well received. I've stabilized drift wood and turned it but never done anything with sand. I really like the idea and the outcome and you might have answered a question that I've had for some time now. Thanks for sharing and a Very Happy Birthday to your wife.
 

TDahl

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Messages
1,889
Location
Brentwood
Very nice looking pen and the sentiment will be well received. I've stabilized drift wood and turned it but never done anything with sand. I really like the idea and the outcome and you might have answered a question that I've had for some time now. Thanks for sharing and a Very Happy Birthday to your wife.
Thank you.
 
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