New Zealand Abalone and Others!

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JohnU

JohnU

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Joined
Jan 31, 2008
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5,367
Location
Ottawa, Illinois
I finally had a chance to turn one of these blanks I made from the awesome gift of Abalone Shells I received from Toni. They are beautiful shells and I only wish my photos showed them better. Thank You again Toni! This one went to my sister in law. She loves the Ocean and all it has to offer.

The second is a Madreperlato blue blank that I got as a freebie from Exoticblanks.com I had a request for the most beautiful blue I could get. It fit the bill and is much nicer in person when you can turn it and see the swirls come to life.

The last two are my kids. They picked these two blanks out of the last box full I sent to Dawn and Ed. They like to keep their teachers excited as to what pen they will have next.
 

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Wow...great pens, but that Abalone pen is the sickest casting of Abalone ever !!! Did you make it from one of her big shells? It looks like it is cut up into a hundred or more pieces and expertly seamed back together, as opposed to the typical thin strips. Did you cast that? What the hell are you doing over there??? Where do you find all the time??? I am very impressed!
 
CAN'T BELIEVE HOW GORGEOUS THE ABALONE TURNED OUT!!
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE BLANKS!!
CAN I ASK HOW YOU DID THE BLANK?
 
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workinforwood said:
Wow...great pens, but that Abalone pen is the sickest casting of Abalone ever !!! Did you make it from one of her big shells? It looks like it is cut up into a hundred or more pieces and expertly seamed back together, as opposed to the typical thin strips. Did you cast that? What the hell are you doing over there??? Where do you find all the time??? I am very impressed!
Click to expand...

LOL! I started with a bag of small shell pieces. Most of them are still too big to work so I broke them smaller when needed, but that was after I sorted out the flat usable ones. Then one by one with tweezers the shell pieces are glued to the painted tube trying to match and fill all the edges so the tube doesn't show. Sometimes I use a small nail file to shape the piece so it fits better. It takes an easy hour and a half to cover the tube. If I'm listening to tv it takes longer. Lol. Then they sit to degas for a couple days and then sand, buff and clean before casting. Most of my blanks are made between midnight and 3 am after I get home from work while the family sleeps.

Unlike Jeffs scroll sawed blanks, these don't take talent... Just lots of time. Thanks for all the comments.
 
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JohnU said:
Unlike Jeffs scroll sawed blanks, these don't take talent... Just lots of time. Thanks for all the comments.
Click to expand...

Man, don't cut yourself short! There is talent there... The shell one is HOT stuff!! Beautiful work. I hope to be able to get to that level of patience and detail some day!
 
Your feather pens are great as usual and thats the second blue madreperlato Ive seen that makes me want to get my hands on one and get a pen made. I can really appreciate the detail and the work that went into making the abalone pen. Very nice job
Mike
 
John, now I got a bad case of the wants.........But I seem to always want what you so masterfully do. Patience is a talent!
 
John WOW the paua shell came out awesome!!! Let me know when you need more, looks like everyone is going to keep you busy. Let me know if you need more. Might have to find a new shop for them as the quake destroyed alot of stores.

thank you for showing the paua pen!!!
 
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