Slowly starting up again

[MPVic]

It's been quite a while since I posted so here's my first cigar kit. Blank is from Rockler - my first attempt at back painting the blank using white enamel.
Question: The 1st pic shows a nice straight light reflection, but in the rest of the pics the reflection lines have a ripple. I was wondering if the barrels were perfectly straight & checked with a straight metal edge. Would appreciate any comments.

 

[Jim15]

Great looking pen.

 

[Painfullyslow]

Beautiful work! I really like the blank you used.

As for the reflection, that can only be caused by variations in the surface. I am still very new to this and still learning how to make a perfectly straight cut with lathe tools.

Until then, when I start getting close to the bushings I use a sanding block to touch the pen and it will highlight the high spots, I then clean up with my skew.

Sometimes I still cant get it right and part of the finishing process is using a sanding block until it is even, then remove the scratches and continue with my normal finishing routine.

Obviously this only works with blanks which are intended to be level.

 

[jttheclockman]

The pen looks great. For unevenness you should be able to feel with your fingers

 

[MRDucks2]

Nice. I expect that is one of those blanks that looks amazing turned and on a pen but when looking at the raw blank you kind of wonder.

 

[Sataro]

Very nice looking pen!