Hello From NC!

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Icabodcam

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2019
Messages
6
Location
North Carolina
Hi all,
I've been lurking for a while, and since I've just completed my first bespoke pen I figured it'd be time to say "hey y'all," and extend my thanks for the bits of advice I've picked up around here. I've been turning, mostly pens, since March of this year. It's been another effort to combat frustration and insomnia. Fortunately it's mostly working!
I'm not as good at this as I want to be yet. I'm facing a few challenges. I'd love some feedback and suggestions. Here's my latest work, a bespoke work with eggshell inlay. The section is a El Grande unit but all else is my own work. 1563240643830.png1563241070181.png
You'll likely notice there's some major issues in finish here, but this is my first attempt at the eggshell onlay and my adhesive choice was not great, yielded the dreaded soda water look between the eggshell pieces. Really, though, the biggest issue that I'm having is work-holding. I'm using a collet chuck with fractional inch colletts. I think that I really need to get metric so that there is better overlap in the holding range. I'm generally able to overcome this issue but I'm finding pretty consistently that if I have to re-chuck a piece (tennoning then finishing the back) it becomes out of round. I've even started by turning a dimple in both ends of my rounded and faced blanks with the hopes that the tail stock will help center the blank properly in the collett chuck, but that's only slightly successful.

Also I'm finding it very difficult to turn pieces together. For instance you can see here that my finial isn't quite right from the shaping. I just cant figure out how to turn them together and still have access to it's end:
1563241346881.png

I like a smooth line with the cap and the body following one line, so it's necessary to turn the cap and body together. This is super risky though, so I'd love some advice on how you all achieve that. I'm also trying to figure out how to use something like jam chucks and keep the axis of the pen in line with the spindle, so far I've had no luck there.

Anyway, I really want to say Hi! and thanks for any feedback and advice.
 

mark james

IAP Collection, Curator
Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
12,720
Location
Medina, Ohio
Welcome to IAP Cam. Two beautiful pens there!

For the transition, maybe use a pin chuck and turn the upper section and upper finial together (do not assemble yet). Then place the finial aside and reverse the upper blank and turn it and the lower blank together for their transition. Just a thought. If you have a Harbor Freight punch set, use whatever size you need and grind a flat spot for your pin and you have what you need.

I love the egg shell appearance, please continue this as it is very close to some very high end work.
 
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