Ernie Borraga Blank

[Seer]

Several years ago Ernie started a blank exchange going around the country where you put blanks in and take blanks out and mail it to the next person. I got one that is Red with Mammoth Tusk Ivory in it and have been holding onto it for several years. Trying to figure out what to do with it to honor Ernie after all these years. Any Ideas would be nice.
Thanks

 

[bugradx2]

I don't know Ernie but I've found that my favorite two ways to commemorate something are to make a set of matching pens for the people involved or make something that shows the whole blank like a long body (Artisan Clicker from Craft Supplies = Exotic Blanks Long Clicker) or two piece pen (cigar, rollerball)

 

[mark james]

A few thoughts of topics Ernie had deep connections to:

Anything automotive
Auto Racing
Kentucky Derby
Bourbon
Guns (I was with him 3 weeks before he passed and he was getting stuff for reloading shells)
Tacos
Super Bowl play-by-play on IAP

Other close friends (hey Chuck!) can add to the list.

 

[Dalecamino]

Mark said everything for me. Ernie was proud of his watch parts blanks. A pen with two straight barrels would be suitable for some watch parts. He has left behind some cool videos. If you can get your hands on some small watch parts, it would be pretty simple, and easy to accomplish.

I should mention to you, Ernie sent me some of those Silmar 41 blanks, and I had a very difficult time turning them. They're brittle. Could have been the guy turning them!

This is a nice gesture coming shortly after his Birthday. Hats off!! RIP Ernie!

 

[Seer]

I have a couple of cigar kits and some copper Aston kits but don't know if it would look good together. Still thinking about it thanks everyone.

 

[Seer]

Any ideas for turning mammoth ivory I think that is what held me back from this for awhile.

 

[MRDucks2]

My first 3 thoughts were:
Watch Parts Pen - Ernie liked to use as many different parts as possible, not just the gears.

Racing - this was a family thing for Ernie as both his Dad and brother enjoyed the racing and Ernie worked for a performance parts company.

Bourbon - Ernie was part of a Bourbon club that early access to limited batches they bought cheaper as a group, I was envious as he pointed out the bottle among many he had me pick off his shelf for us to try at his brother's house one day a group of us went to visit him.

I worked with Ernie a few times trying to develop a formula using Silmar 41 similar to Inlace Actylester from Woodturningz. It pllishes up beautifully but is chippy on its own with nothing embedded. As such, I would approach this blank the way you would IA.

 

[Seer]

My first 3 thoughts were:
Watch Parts Pen - Ernie liked to use as many different parts as possible, not just the gears.

Racing - this was a family thing for Ernie as both his Dad and brother enjoyed the racing and Ernie worked for a performance parts company.

Bourbon - Ernie was part of a Bourbon club that early access to limited batches they bought cheaper as a group, I was envious as he pointed out the bottle among many he had me pick off his shelf for us to try at his brother's house one day a group of us went to visit him.

I worked with Ernie a few times trying to develop a formula using Silmar 41 similar to Inlace Actylester from Woodturningz. It pllishes up beautifully but is chippy on its own with nothing embedded. As such, I would approach this blank the way you would IA.

Thank you I will round the blank on a sander first and then use carbides that I use like a skew on an angle to shave it. The ivory is the part I need to be careful on since I have never turned it in anything.

 

[walshjp17]

Thank you I will round the blank on a sander first and then use carbides that I use like a skew on an angle to shave it. The ivory is the part I need to be careful on since I have never turned it in anything.

If I may, when turning these blanks, use negative rake carbides as they will tend not to chip out as much as regular carbides or HSS tools.

BTW, I took a watch parts class with Ernie at MOVPTG many years ago. I still use his methodology. RIP, Ernie. Pictured is my first Watch parts from the session with Ernie.

 

[Seer]

If I may, when turning these blanks, use negative rake carbides as they will tend not to chip out as much as regular carbides or HSS tools.

BTW, I took a watch parts class with Ernie at MOVPTG many years ago. I still use his methodology. RIP, Ernie. Pictured is my first Watch parts from the session with Ernie.

Wish I had some but all my carbides are hand made by me except for a couple.