Very nice pen. I guess you have now learned that 'X' is quite difficult at times to work with. I always soak my 'X' cuts in thin CA for a bit just to add a bit of strength to the grain. At least it seems to help me a bit when I do. []
I think what helped the most was the CA.. When I got it about half way down I coated it with CA.. Let it dry and cut some more.. Did that about three times until the end. But it was a compo of everybody's advice that made it...[]
Great looking pen Dan. I am going to turn a couple more of the zebra wood pens.
Look at the post on my duck call here, to see the 45° x-cut. I didn't have any problems with turning it. Also, look at the grain of light to dark wood on mine. I find that the greater contrasted wood turns better for me. I have some with less of the dark wood and it catches more than what the duck call does. I will say that I sharpened my chisels before hand and "touched" them up about 4 times during the turning.