Splotchy spots on pen

[jhogan9600]

I'm a newbie and I've turned about 15 or 20 pens so far. I've noticed is some splotchiness near the nib on my acrylic pens. I paint my tubes so the brass doesn't show through the acrylic and scratch the tubes and coat them with epoxy before inserting them. If you've ever seen a bad window tint job on a car.... that's sort of how it looks? I'm thinking it's air... but I don't know. Can anyone help me solve this?
Thanks,
John

 

[jedgerton]

I expect it's a combination of air and roughness left by the drilling. I see it sometimes on translucent blanks. You might try reverse painting which I'd painting the inside of the blank.

John

 

[zig613]

John...

Instead of painting the tube try painting the inside of the blank before gluing in your tubes. I find this works much better than painting the tube itself. This way the glue or the tube will not show through.

Wade

 

[Dan26]

I agree with John. Uh, the second John. I had one that looked great except for near one end. After looking a little closer, the epoxy had not adhered to the blank and left a gap that looked like a splotch.

 

[Jim in Oakville]

John...

In stead of painting the tube try painting the inside of the blank before gluing in your tubes. I find this works much better than painting the tube itself. This way the glue or the tube will show through.

Wade

Ditto John, Wade, et al....

 

[Knucklefish]

So here's a dumb question. What's the easiest way to paint the inside of the blank (reverse painting)???

 

[MorganGrafixx]

So here's a dumb question. What's the easiest way to paint the inside of the blank (reverse painting)???

A can of Krylon works for me.

 

[G1Pens]

I use a Q-Tip. Works great

 

[zig613]

So here's a dumb question. What's the easiest way to paint the inside of the blank (reverse painting)???

I use Testers paint and apply it with a Qtip.

Wade