Favorite Purple Blanks?

[stolicky]

I have made and sold many pens over the years, and pink and purple (as noted in other threads) tend to sell the best. However, most pens are usually a unique, one-off effort. I am looking to make several similar purple pens with a blank and is commercially readily available. What are your favorites?

The kit is probably going to be an Elegant Sierra, but the blank ends up being pretty thin. I am trying to convince the 'boss' to go with an Aero, because more meat/color/depth is left on the blank.

I prefer minimal required painting of the inside of the blank due to texture from the drill bit, but it is not a deal breaker. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sly Dog]

Have been happy with:
Grape mist - https://www.beartoothwoods.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3702
Ecto purple - https://www.mckenziepenworks.com/co...-round-blank/products/ecto-purple-round-blank

I always paint to be cautious so I can't say how'd they'd come out if you don't paint.
Russ

 

[greenacres2]

Andromeda from McKenzie. But that's more for the combination with blue & white.
earl

 

[johnjohnson42]

Anything on this page... https://www.mckenziepenworks.com/search?type=product&q=purple ... you can't go wrong

 

[qquake]

This is an Aquabright from PSI. I painted the hole and tube, and colored the epoxy.

Aquabright Black and Purple 3/4 in. x 3/4 in. x 5 in. Pen Blank at Penn State Industries

 

[qquake]

This is Purple Passion from Woodturningz. Again, I painted the hole and tube and colored the epoxy.

Acrylic Acetate #13 - Purple Passion - WoodTurningz

 

[TonyL]

I like the purple acrylester the best because is opaque.

 

[qquake]

I like the purple acrylester the best because is opaque.

But harder to turn. Which acrylester blank?

 

[qquake]

This is a Diamond Cast Andromeda, that I didn't have to paint. But it's predominantly blue.

Diamond Cast Pen Blank Rod – Turners Warehouse

 

[TonyL]

But harder to turn. Which acrylester blank?

Hey Jim!

Really any one where the majority of the blank is purple - here is a good one: Acrylester

 

[stolicky]

Thank you for the recommendations, and those thorough responses qquake! I have not tried the diamond cast yet. After collecting blanks for a decade I learned to slow down a bit buying everything new as it came out. The aquabright is interesting. I have had good luck with the pink aquabright/aquapearl blanks.

Definitely liking the grape rust-oleum!

I was never a fan of the chippiness of the acrylester. If the blank survived turning it shines up beautifully, but I found alumilite and acrylic acetate much easier to turn.

 

[qquake]

Thank you for the recommendations, and those thorough responses qquake! I have not tried the diamond cast yet. After collecting blanks for a decade I learned to slow down a bit buying everything new as it came out. The aquabright is interesting. I have had good luck with the pink aquabright/aquapearl blanks.

Definitely liking the grape rust-oleum!

I was never a fan of the chippiness of the acrylester. If the blank survived turning it shines up beautifully, but I found alumilite and acrylic acetate much easier to turn.

Inlace acrylester blanks are definitely a pain. I used to avoid them like the plague, but since I've discovered carbide chisels and shearing cuts, I only avoid them like the common cold. I have much better success with this method. I recently started using a chisel with a round shaft, so I can rotate it and change the angle of the cutter as needed.

 

[penicillin]

Purple:
Good ol' purpleheart wood. I bought a 12 inch piece off the end of a wide purpleheart board at our local Rockler. They sell it by the board-foot, and will cut off as little as 6 inches from the end of a board, as long as you leave them with a board at least 4 feet long. At least our local Rockler does that. I cut off pen blanks with the bandsaw as needed.

Pink:
Pink Swirl Acrylic Acetate Pen Blank
https://www.rockler.com/pink-acrylic-acetate-pen-blank

I have made several breast cancer awareness pens with them. Remember to paint the brass tubes or the inside of the holes, or both. I always keep a blank and a pen kit on hand, in case someone around us has breast cancer and needs a cheer-me-up.
https://www.rockler.com/breast-cancer-awareness-pen-hardware-kit-chrome-with-pink-crystals
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKBCPCH.html
(Penn State has it in other platings and crystals, but I think the chrome-with-pink is the only way to go)

 

[stolicky]

Inlace acrylester blanks are definitely a pain. I used to avoid them like the plague, but since I've discovered carbide chisels and shearing cuts, I only avoid them like the common cold. I have much better success with this method. I recently started using a chisel with a round shaft, so I can rotate it and change the angle of the cutter as needed.

You will like the carbide chisel with the round shaft. I made my own version 10 years ago, and I use it and a small spindle roughing gouge on most pens. Come to think of it, I probably gave up on inlace before I made the tool. Maybe I will try one again.

 

[dartman]

What are kit less blanks.....? /