My First Batch

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tomwojeck

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2004
Messages
194
Location
Baltimore, MD, USA.
All,

Attached is a picture of my first batch of Cigar pens finished with CA/BLO. The one on the left is African Leadwood, the next 2 are padauk, the next is curly cherry, and the one on the right is Bolivian rosewood.

Each one has been a little better than the last. My biggest problem is the lighting in my shop (garage) sucks, and I can't always see scratches on the surface. On one of the padauks, I thought it was perfect, checked and rechecked, only to see faint scratches when I checked them the next day in natural daylight.

Anyway, it's still loads of fun, and I think I'm getting better.

--Tom

Image Insert:
200491012620_P9090040.jpg

69.04KB
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Great looking pens Tom.

For those last tiny scratches, some people do a quick buffing on the lathe. I have used automotive swirl mark remover with soft paper towel, and it does miracles. Just a dab will do it.[:D]
 
Beautiful pens, Tom. Lighting is definitely key. I had my father in law install four 8 foot tubes in addition to the stock lights in my shop. I also use a worklight that clips right on the edge of my lathe that is very helpful.
 
Thought I would pull up an old post.
I just got a couple of pieces of Leadwood From Bill.
Judging from your picture it finishes red.
Mine kind of look brown.
Anyone else done anything in lead wood?
I found this thread from the search function.
 
Originally posted by Eaglesc
<br />Thought I would pull up an old post.
I just got a couple of pieces of Leadwood From Bill.
Judging from your picture it finishes red.
Mine kind of look brown.
Anyone else done anything in lead wood?
I found this thread from the search function.
Click to expand...

Eagle,

On that batch it did finish red. I'm not sure if the BLO brought out the red in it or not.

As I think about it, I'm relying on the markings that woodcraft put on the blanks to say that it was leadwood. It could very well have been something else.

-Tom
 
Nice looking pens. Another idea is a swing arm light/magnifier combo over your lathe. Harbor Freight has a good deal on one. I have the florescent lamps but the swing arm one with a screw in 60watt florescent bulb (almost no heat and more light) helps me see any imperfections. Kirk[8D]
 
My Harbor Freight is continually sold out of them so I bought headband magnifiers and a magnetic based lamp. Turning through a magnifying glass is REALLY different!!
 
Originally posted by knottyharry
<br />A very nice display of pens. They look real good from where I sit.
Maybe someday I'll get there also.
Harry
Click to expand...

Harry,

Thanks for the kind words. I took a class at woodcraft, but really most of the really good stuff that I learned I learned from reading different people's posts on this website.

--Tom
 
Good looking batch!....I finally found the easiest way for me to check for scratches, was to buy one of those magnifying lamps at Office Depot. Cost me a total of $18.00. I mounted the bracket right at the end of my bench, so when I need it, I just swing it over and it fits perfectly over top of the lathe. Since I seem to be half blind anyway, that magnifyer lens on that thing sure is nice!
 
Originally posted by DCBluesman
<br />Tom...African leadwood colors range from red-brown to dark brown (almost black). It's an age thing with the tree.
Click to expand...
THnaks D.C&gt; I was the one looking for colors of blackwood.
THose were the only ones I could find.

( see where a "reply to" might be beneficial?)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom