Snake skin lessons learned

[rhahnfl]

This was my sixth pen. Snake skin blank from AZS, hardware from BTW & casing from Gary Max. I learned a lot making this one.
1. Sharp tools and a light touch!!!
2. Wet sanding is a good thing!!! Keep paper moving!! 120,240,400,eee & plastic polish
3. Fill holes from air bubbles with thick CA. Note to self...buy accelerant so glue dries quicker (patience)
4. Novus plastic polish works as advertised.
Next up... I have a piece of antler I'm going to try.

 

[DKF]

Looks very nice...looks well beyond a 6th pen!

 

[johnnycnc]

Awesome job,Chris!
Your sixth pen? you are smokin!!
Nice combination.[]

 

[Stevej72]

Hi Chris, I think you did a great job on the pen. Next time I'll switch to sandpaper. I didn't fill mine with CA since I didn't like the looks of the label seam anyway.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The snakes do have a learning cure involved. And you nailed it, sharp and with patience. I'm not sure I would start with 120 grit, a bit coarse. I started at 220. Coarse can sometimes cause scratches which are an [explitive deleted] to get out. Lookin' good.

 

[gerryr]

Whoever it is that makes the snakeskin blanks for BB uses too much catalyst. It makes the PR set up faster but it also makes it brittle, but his skins are pretty good. The blanks from Glimmerz n More turn very nicely and are not brittle, but their skins are pretty mediocre.

Looks like you did a nice job with a difficult blank.

 

[johncrane]

looks good from here Chris! if you blokes every run outta snakes too kill' there's plenty here too kill,good snakes are dead snakes l recon.

 

[TellicoTurning]

John,
You have those nice sea snakes off the Great Barrier... maybe you could harvest a few of them for their skins... already brine soaked right??[}][}][]

 

[neon007]

Great pen!! Needs a rifle clip IMO.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by gerryr
<br />Whoever it is that makes the snakeskin blanks for BB uses too much catalyst. It makes the PR set up faster but it also makes it brittle, but his skins are pretty good. The blanks from Glimmerz n More turn very nicely and are not brittle, but their skins are pretty mediocre.

Looks like you did a nice job with a difficult blank.

I'm sure your characterization of Glimmerz N More's skin blanks as "mediocre" is your opinion. Mine is that they are stunning. Please check two examples I have put in my album. Others may make great snake blanks, but I'm now a loyal Glimmerz customer. A python Cigar is on the lathe now, waiting for me to finish my morning coffee to turn.