Aluminum

[Cwalker935]

I decided to start out the new year experimenting with some new stuff, new to me at least. I bought an aluminum rod at home depot and wanted to see if I could work with it on my wood lathe. Not a mirror finish but I kind of like the look.

 

[RKB]

That is awesome.

 

[stonepecker]

Not a thing wrong with that pen.
The finish is perfect.
You don't need a mirror finish to show all the fingerprints.

Just one more to add to my bucket list.
Beautiful work.

 

[TonyL]

Very nice!
What did you drill and turn it with? Really well done!

 

[Cwalker935]

Very nice!
What did you drill and turn it with? Really well done!

I drilled it on the lathe using cheap Harbor freight bits occasionally squirting with WD40. I used a ewt round tool at first but ended up using my skew to turn it.

 

[TonyL]

Thank you. Very impressive.

 

[Oldredbeard]

That looks great, and I agree I wouldn't want a mirror finish. That looks like a brushed finish, which is just right on a pen. Congratulations sir, very nice work.

 

[Krash]

Very nice. Like stonepecker said, it's on my bucket list!

 

[Mr Vic]

Did you tube it or drill smaller to allow a press fit directly into the aluminum? If non tube can you share bit size?
Oh and I like the pen....

 

[Cwalker935]

Did you tube it or drill smaller to allow a press fit directly into the aluminum? If non tube can you share bit size?
Oh and I like the pen....

I tubed it since I was not sure how well the aluminum would hold up to pressed in parts.

 

[Sataro]

That is a very impressive looking pen! Great job?

 

[lwalper]

Did you tube it or drill smaller to allow a press fit directly into the aluminum? If non tube can you share bit size?
Oh and I like the pen....

I tubed it since I was not sure how well the aluminum would hold up to pressed in parts.

No need to tube it. Just measure a transmission and make a hole the right size to make a close fit. I doubt you'd be able to "press" much on the transmission -- you'll crush it (been there done that) since the aluminum won't stretch much like the brass tube does in softer materials.

Good looking pen!