Looking For Your Favorite Ebonite Tips And Tricks

[wade45]

Hey folks,

Getting back into pen turning and continuing with where I left off 12 years ago. Kit-less was the hot thing to be working on skill wise. I never worked with ebonite back than so I am looking for your favorite tidbits on working and finishing ebonite.

I'm casting a few parts in gold and silver and want to throw in some color with the ebonite.

Thanks
Wade

 

[duncsuss]

Generally I've found ebonite works well - but ever since I got a batch that was riddled with pinhole bubbles I've avoided the cheapest stuff and now only use German or Japanese materials. Normally buy it from Vermont Freehand or Exotic Blanks.

I've never tried threading it finer than 0.5mm pitch, and usually stick to 0.75mm or 0.8mm.

It seems no matter how fine I sand it (either Micromesh or the Zona papers) it always looks dull until I buff it with tripoli, white diamond, blue, and Plas-Glo and fine plastic compounds from Caswell Plating. And even then, I never quite get the level of shine that Renee Meeks (Scriptorium Pens) achieves

 

[wade45]

Thanks for the info Duncan!