budnder
Member
Scooped up a couple of pine cones from a very old, very significant local pine tree, and figured I'd try a pen with one. It was quick and dirty - didn't dry it out or anything, just trimmed it to about 1.25" square on the bandsaw, stuffed it into 1.5" PVC tube and then poured in a mix of copper colored and blue Alumilite. Fit was tight enough that I didn't need anything to keep it from floating. I let it cure all night in the pressure pot at 30 lbs. It drilled and turned very easily, when I was all done turning I only had one little pin head air pocket to fill.
I'm not sure where the blue color went, as all I see is the copper mostly. You can see it's hard to get the pine cone pattern exactly centered, as it's not exactly straight to begin with. Also, when I trimmed it, I probably didn't get equal amounts on all sides.
I was going to go Knurl or Zen with it, and picked Knurl because I thought the beefier profile of the Knurl would work better with the rather uneven pattern.
I'm happy with it and will likely make a few more in the coming months. Maybe a Compson clicker next.
I'm not sure where the blue color went, as all I see is the copper mostly. You can see it's hard to get the pine cone pattern exactly centered, as it's not exactly straight to begin with. Also, when I trimmed it, I probably didn't get equal amounts on all sides.
I was going to go Knurl or Zen with it, and picked Knurl because I thought the beefier profile of the Knurl would work better with the rather uneven pattern.
I'm happy with it and will likely make a few more in the coming months. Maybe a Compson clicker next.
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