qquake
Member
One of my favorite kits is the venerable Executive. It's easy to turn and assemble with just one body. It's inexpensive yet classy looking. And it's available in several finishes. Here are some of mine, let's see yours!
Show your Executives!
- Thread starter qquake
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jttheclockman
Member
Just not a fan of this kit. Do not like the cap end. You did a nice job with your pens and if it is one of your favs then that is all that counts.
qquake
Member
That's interesting. The finial is one of the things I like about the Executive. It has more visual interest to me than say the finial on the Gatsby.
I have probably made this kit more than any other. For me, it sells well and makes a nice gift pen. I do wish the ends were a little thicker (.420) which would allow me use less opaque blanks I have probably made over 1,000. I have only photographed few.
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Excecutive Blue Rhino.jpg -
Excecutive Fernande.jpg -
Executive Black and Red.jpg -
Executive Blue Acrylester.jpg -
Executive Cherry PP.jpg -
Executive Gun Metal BEB Stabilized.jpg -
Executive Red Huts Polygem.jpg -
Executive Italian Olivwood.jpg -
Executive Stylus 1.jpg -
Executive Wood CA Finish.jpg -
Executive Wood ID.jpg -
Glu Boost Exec.mp4
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Golden Retriever Executive.jpg -
Green Dyed Curley Maple.jpg -
Light Blue wth Specks Excecutive.jpg -
PM Compass.jpg -
Rosemarie Spectaply.jpg -
Solarez 1 .jpg -
Spectra orande and black.jpg -
Spectra Pink.jpg -
Spectra Red and Green.jpg
It looks like you have really gotten that finish down! Thanks for the pics.
qquake
Member
Wow, over 1,000? Those are some nice looking Executives!
Easy > 1000 I have sent them all over the US. They are inexpensive and perform well. For under $10 (with a most blank materials). I get get no less than $45 and the guys and gals love them. Of course, no one is going to tell me that they didn't like their gift pens, right? PSI or whomever has have replaced some of the transmission with plastic (instead of brass), but I still like them. Here is the one that is on my desk now. It has a Parker-style gel in it. I snapped the picture quickly.
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mark james
IAP Collection, Curator
pngeezer
Member
Last edited:
Timber Ripper
Member
Made this for a Police Officer using the Thin Blue Line acrylic blank from PSI
jttheclockman
Member
Hey everyone's tastes are different. Just look at how many have made them here as you see. Tony made over 1000. I have not made 1000 pens in my lifetime. Goes to show the different level of pen makers out there. Continued success with them. Just something about that top just turns me off of that kit.
Aces-High
Member
I like this kit too. My only complaint is like Tony said, the shoulder is too thin, for some of the more delicate segmenting I do it gets scary.
That is exactly right JT. I am not a Sierra guy. I tried them and never liked them. I like what others have done with them, but not my cup of tea. (or caw - fee LOL)
henry1164
Member
This is the kind of advise that is very well taken as a new pen turner like me. I have been looking at styles of pens to see what I would like to do and I am convinced that I will do executives beginning soon. I suspect that it will be a great decision and I will have fun in the process. Thanks for all of the info.
RobS
Member
I have made about 200 pens using the Executive. The straight single barrel, lends itself well, to an easy turn and straightforward finish.
It works well, with non transparent blanks.
**If using transparent you must paint the tube, combined with a clear epoxy.
People at work love them, good weight for sticking in the collar of a polo shirt.
It works well, with non transparent blanks.
**If using transparent you must paint the tube, combined with a clear epoxy.
People at work love them, good weight for sticking in the collar of a polo shirt.
qquake
Member
While I don't like the design as much as the Executive, I also like the Gatsby. I think it's a little easier than the Executive, because the body is shorter, and it's more forgiving due to the "ridges". The ends of the barrel don't have to be turned quite as accurately as do the Executive. And because it uses a 3/8" drill instead of 27/64", and the barrel is "fatter", the Gatsby Grande ends are much thicker than the Executive or Gatsby. It's better for translucent blanks.
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qquake
Member
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qquake
Member
Dale Lynch
Member
The Executive is my prefered kit because of its simplicity.It does not overshadow my work like the themed kits do.I also like the longer tube to show said work.Now here comes the album.
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qquake
Member
I think the 3M Tri-M-Ite and Meguiar's 105 and 205 were the game changers. You told me about the 105/205, but I can't remember who told me about the Tri-M-Ite. It was somebody on the forum, though. These are giving me the best finish I've ever gotten.
Attachments
qquake
Member
mark james
IAP Collection, Curator
It's albums like this that make me appreciate what others are doing, and laugh at what others are not willing to acknowledge - this kit is fine for many purposes, and excels at many.
Very, very nice!
mark james
IAP Collection, Curator
Awesome photos to see the progression from "Nice" finish to "Incredible" finish.
qquake
Member
Thank you for the compliment. I wish I could take the credit. But I think it's more finding the right products, than it is skill on my part.
jttheclockman
Member
The Gatsby is a version of the Sierra. I like the Sierra line.
pshrynk
Member
I was thinking that was the case. I love the Gatsby. Have to try the Executive, having seen some of the pens in this thread.
qquake
Member
A couple of you have mentioned how thin the body of the Executive is on the ends. Just for fun, I did the math. These are the material thicknesses based on the bushings.
Executive .039"
Gatsby .043"
Vertex .044"
Executive .039"
Gatsby .043"
Vertex .044"