Thin Blue Line

[PreacherJon]

My son is graduating from the academy in November. I just gave myself the notion to make some kind of, Thin Blue Line, pen for him. Does anyone know of some blanks out there that would make this possible? Thanks

 

[Old Goat]

Penn State sells thin blue line blanks

 

[rixstix]

Many of the thin blue line blanks are labeled Acrylic but are actually a more difficult to turn resin.

Turner's warehouse has Alumilite thin blue line blanks. (as well as the 'other' resin variants)
https://www.turnerswarehouse.com/pr...nk-made-with-alumilite?variant=32271861940307

 

[greenacres2]

@PreacherJon Jon--PM your mailing address and i'll send a few of the PSI acrylic (@rixstix is correct, they heat up easy when turning). I'll also include a few SpectraPly--much easier to turn. My gift to you for gifting your son to us.
earl

 

[calabrese55]

If you are inclined you can make them yourself.
The photos below are pens made with cut vinyl graphics attached to the tube and cast in Alumilite clear slow resin.
You can also look into water slide decals apply that graphic to the tube and cast in resin.
Tha
he advantage of the water slide decal is you can have multiple colors printed, include personalization like badge numbers. agency or officre's mane.
There are several youtube vids on applying decal graphich to pen work. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pen+decals
Again the photos below are cut vinyl applied in two colors in the future I would opt for the decal process.
calabrese55

 

[egnald]

I've made several of the thin Red Line blanks and I wholeheartedly agree with Rick (rixstix), the Alumilite from Turner's Warehouse are much easier to turn and work with than many of the others. - Dave

 

[PreacherJon]

If you are inclined you can make them yourself.
The photos below are pens made with cut vinyl graphics attached to the tube and cast in Alumilite clear slow resin.
You can also look into water slide decals apply that graphic to the tube and cast in resin.
Tha
he advantage of the water slide decal is you can have multiple colors printed, include personalization like badge numbers. agency or officre's mane.
There are several youtube vids on applying decal graphich to pen work. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pen+decals
Again the photos below are cut vinyl applied in two colors in the future I would opt for the decal process.
calabrese55

Thanks... I'm probably the one who came up with using decals on pens 15+ years ago... I did a tutorial on Lumber Jocks. I'm glad there are videos now about how to do it. I guess what I really want is a barrel that is the actual thin blue line flag.

 

[egnald]

Thanks... I'm probably the one who came up with using decals on pens 15+ years ago... I did a tutorial on Lumber Jocks. I'm glad there are videos now about how to do it. I guess what I really want is a barrel that is the actual thin blue line flag.

Exotic Blanks carries Thin Blue Line flag inlay blanks for the Bolt Action and Sierra style kits. I've never made anything using inlay kits, but there are YouTube videos out there related to using laser inlay blanks. - Dave

 

[calabrese55]

Try these , I suspect the Penn State and Turninz blanks are the same blanks ????

Thin Blue Line 7/8" x 5" Pen Blank - WoodTurningz

Make a pen to support, respect and honor the courage of police officers and law enforcement across the country.

www.woodturningz.com

SpectraPly #01 - Thin Blue Line - WoodTurningz

Thin Blue Line is a colored laminated birch hardwood that is fabricated using several layers of dyed-wood in black and a triple layer of blue. **SpectraPly is Made in the USA**

www.woodturningz.com

Thin Dark Blue Line 7/8 in. x 7/8 in. x 5 in. Pen Blank

Make a pen to support, respect and honor the courage of police officers and law enforcement across the country. A meaningful message and a meaningful gift for family and community. This blank features a bit darker thin blue line then our original Thin Blue Line Blank; for those people looking for a

www.pennstateind.com

Thin Blue Line 7/8in. x 7/8in. x 5in. Pen Blank

Make a pen to support, respect and honor the courage of police officers and law enforcement across the country. A meaningful message and a meaningful gift for family and community.

www.pennstateind.com

calabrese55

 

[JohnU]

Most of the production line blanks are a form of PR, which can be more brittle because it's harder resin. It's not harder to turn, just different. You can make blanks like these very easily. Just pour a solid black blank, let cure, set the table saw fence so the thin kerf blade cuts a groove down the middle of the blank leaving about 1/8" below center. Then flip and cut the opposite side, to leave a 1/4" solid middle. This is easier than trying to center a strip of color and cast black around it, unless you build a specific mold with an even groove at each side to hold the color strip. Then recast the color in the grove. The problem with alumilite urethane is that it doesn't alway stick real well to itself which is why most are made with PR. You can get away with small additions like this but you may need to apply a CA finish over it to stop the two colors from separating and leaving a small crack along them over time. I've done many this way and without a ca finish could later feel the joint where the two colors meet. Larger segments aren't usually done with this resin because there is a larger risk of them breaking apart while turning.