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J

jrc

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
650
Location
Bristol, Vermont, USA.
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God Bless you Jim;Thank you for sharing your Knowledge with us beginners its people
like you that make this world a better place to live.Ohh!!! keep them videos coming ok.

Thank you,Thank you
 
Thanks so much for the videos. I have watched the CA finish serveral times and have been practicing.

Here are a couple after watching the video. Not great but a big improvement for me.

1_1.JPG
 
CA sanding

Hi James, I've changed the Micro-Mesh that I use because the pads cost to much and I only used 3 grits. Now I use Micro-Mesh cloth backed sheets and use a pad under them.
I order 12"X12" sheets of 1500, 2400 & 8000 grits. Sand lightly with the 1500. I suggest practice a few turnings on not so good wood first. Good luck.

http://www.sisweb.com/catalog/08/G2
 
Still Working on the CA finish. I got a box of shorts from Victor (LandfillLumber) and I thought this was a beautiful piece of spalted sweet gum. Thanks Victor for the sweet gum and Jim for the video

1_pen-1a.JPG
 
Thank you

I'm glad I could help James. I'll try to get some updated videos made soon for everyone to view. I still have a few boxes of 30 pen kits if anyone is interested.
75 cents each and postage
 

I bought a box of 30 pen kits (actually Jim threw in a few extras…thank you) and have been practicing the CA finish in the video.

This is attempt #13 and in my opinion is a definite improvement. I only have a picture of the top half cause the bottom didn't come out so well I'm embarrassed to say.

It's still no where near a lot of pens I have seen on here, but I'm still practicing.

1_1a.JPG



1_2a.JPG
 
Happy New Year! Great videos! I have watched the CA one a couple times. I have only done 4 kits, thats all I had, they came out ok to give to family but the finish was poor. when i can get some new pen kits I will try the finishing like you have!!
 
Sorry for the delay, I've had computer problems. Your finishes look good, it took me a few turnings to get it the way it is now, keep at it. I will try to do a better and more videos this winter.

In November Johnny CNC made me a new mandrel setup where I can turn 4 sierra at a time, so far it has worked out great. I quickly pre-turn my blank down to almost to finish size on my 3 blank rod to avoid bending the 4 blank rod. With pre turning blanks I can do it fairly quickly and in a week I have close to 600 pre turned blanks. I tested this out by preturning 20 blanks and finished the 20 in record time. This way I can preturn between orders and I can finish turning 40 to 56 sierra pens in a day. Almost all my big orders are for sierra pens.
 
jrc said:
This is 4 short video clips on cutting pen blanks with a simple pen sled.

jrc048's Channel - YouTube

Drilling pen blanks, jrc048's Channel - YouTube

Drilling deer antler, jrc048's Channel - YouTube

CA Finish jrc048's Channel - YouTube

I've made over 18,000 pens in the last 10 years and if anyone has any questions on pen making you can allways call or email me.
Click to expand...

Hey Jim in Vermont,

Thanks for posting these videos.

Here are some questions for you or anyone else who can answer.

1. How can I build a pen sled like the one you use for the band saw?
2. What is the point of wet sanding? Once you have a few layers of CA glue on, isn't the wood sealed?
3. When you sand the CA glue layer with used 220 grit sand paper, what does that do? – Does it smooth out imperfections in the CA glue?
4. How long do I need to wet sand? How many times do I need to wet the pen with water?
5. What grit micromesh do you use 1200? Multiple grits?

I got good results from doing what I saw you do in the video, but I found that at the end I had some spots on the pen, that looked a little washed out. I put a couple of layers of CA on again, and it looked great. Anything wrong with that? I guess I am just trying to understand why I am doing a particular step.

I used the steps in the video on how to drill the blanks. I got a wood vice / clamp like you had. Between doing that and the tips that renowb gave me I have not wasted so much wood.

Thanks
 
Pen Sled and CA Finish

After applying 2 coats of thin CA, 2 coats of medium and 2 or 3 coats of thick I lightly sand with well worn 220 or 320 3X type paper to take out the little ridges of CA before I wet sand. Sheets - 3X High Performance

Just wet sanding will not take out the little bumps and ridges. How much to sand? That will take a few turnings to test; you want the finish to be flat.

I use this micro mess for wet Sanding, http://www.sisweb.com/catalog/08/G2 1800, 4000 & 8000.

Take it easy with a fresh piece 1800 until it wears down a little.
I cut my micro mesh into around 1 1/2' X 2" pieces and I back the mesh cloth with a used piece micro mesh foam pad and use the back side to place the micro mesh cloth on.

I use a 2oz CA bottle to keep it wet. When you're finished wet sanding if you have any dull spots you have sanded thru the finish. Try again and after a few tries you will have a nice durable high gloss finish.

I added two photos of my dust collector bracket
 
Pen Sled

photos
 

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